Stories that Move Mountains: Storytelling and Visual Design for Persuasive Presentations

COMMON FACTORS CREATING A SENSE OF URGENCY

The following section highlights some of the most common motivators for inspiring commitment and action.

Obsolescence

This can apply to physical products, services, practices, or personal skills, whatever is no longer wanted, even though it may be still working. Often the obsolete is being superseded by something else, and you may be seeing an early indication by its gradual decline in popularity.

This kind of situation can create a strong sense of urgency if you are the retailer, manufacturer, or person with the skill or service becoming obsolete. Obsolete products may no longer fit the way we work (for example, typewriters and fax machines) or are simply being replaced by improved versions, such as the annual cycle of smartphone improvements.

Government regulations

Whether for safety, regulating markets, or competitive advantage, governments enact legislation that requires people and organizations to adapt. Carbon taxes have been used to change the travel behavior of people, legislation for disability access and equal rights has changed the workplace for employers and employees, and forcing the use of seatbelts in cars has saved thousands of lives around the world. In business, possibly the most urgent rules are those aimed at corporate compliance — for example, those related to recording financial transactions or to documenting evidence in pharmaceutical companies that can stop you trading if not complied with.

Seasonality

Seasonality ...