Our week ending 27 September...
UNLOCKED: A JAIL EXPERIMENT:
Netflix’s new reality series is not like any other. A social experiment in a Jail, but was it right to put it on TV? Using interviews and unprecedented access, we watch as detainees are given the freedom to come and go from their cells and decide how their unit should operate. Over six weeks and eight episodes, 46 inmates are documented with unprecedented authority in the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility in Little Rock, Arkansas.
The Netflix series showcases the insightful change in prisoners' attitudes and behaviours as they begin to treat each other as fellow human beings; which ultimately empowers people to have an impact on their culture, environment, and community, all from inside a prison. Questions over the series's legality and ethical implications and impacts of those involved remain.
Sheriff Eric Higgins, who was behind the experiment, was curious about what might happen when unit cells were 'unlocked' for six weeks. The experiment started by removing deputies from the unit, giving inmates greater authority over their everyday routines. The aim was to promote good behaviour among the detainees so they could receive more privileges. Ultimately, it meant that the behaviour improved, it was safer for all and the facility itself was a lot cleaner, due to the ownership taken.
Watch today on Netflix
Discovered by - Sally Nettleton, Co-Founder / Head of Content & Culture
KEEP THE CREATIVE JUICES FLOWING:
Generative AI is transforming industries at the speed of light, and marketing is no exception, as marketers are faced with both new opportunities and challenges. Whilst AI is able to perform tasks and provide marketers with valuable insights, Jessica Apotheker informs us that it is vital to maintain a "human centred approach".
"When people over-rely on Generative AI the collective divergence of ideas drop by 40%" says Jessica. Therefore, their is still a huge need for marketers to be creative, stay up to date with trends, provide innovation whilst coming up with original ideas. This will ensure brands identities are protected and that businesses are able to stay competitive in the market.
If content is always being personalised every week, including your favourite brands to even your favourite rock bands, you get what's called content overload. As consumers get the sense of being chased with the same content over and over again. This is the risk of generative AI as it is only trained on existing content and data.
However, the potential of AI is still exciting, AI can revolutionise marketing by generating personalised content, optimising campaigns and analysing sets of data. It is important that as AI evolves further, marketers understand the best way to balance the capabilities of AI with the creative brains of marketers.
Watch the TED Talk (10 mins)
Discovered by - Sally Nettleton, Co-Founder / Head of Content & Culture
WIN CUSTOMERS WITH SUSTAINABILITY:
Sustainability is a pressing issue for Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) businesses, and packaging is at the heart of that. Sustainable packaging is good for the planet – and great for winning customers too. As consumers are increasingly demanding sustainable practises, this poses a big opportunity for brands to adopt a sustainable packaging strategy, which will meet the needs of their customers. Which is increasingly required in todays world with the environmentally conscious Gen Z audience.
Sustainable packaging typically includes recyclable materials, such as cardboard, or material which can be compostable or biodegradable.
Currently 31% of consumers consider the packaging and its impact on the environment before purchasing, making sustainable packaging a huge factor in winning customers.
Trends & Solutions to win more customers:
Use down-gauging: It involves reducing the thickness of packaging film in your products. This helps the packaging retain its functionality, while generating less waste whilst reducing your carbon footprint.
Incorporate high-barrier mono-materials: Ideal for perishable FMCGs, mono materials are easily recyclable by design.
Swap disposable plastics for returnable metal or glass materials: This is particularly effective for online orders, as shoppers can easily return their used packaging without needing to visit a brick-and-mortar location.
Find tips here to win more customers (2 min read)
Discovered by - Alex Redfarn, Strategic Partnerships Manager
A MATTER OF TRUST:
Trust in the workplace is essential for companies and teams to thrive. It’s a concept that refers to the mutual respect and psychological safety that exists between employees and management. Without it, workers are demotivated and less productive. In fact, research published in the Harvard Business Review shows that compared with individuals at low-trust companies, employees at high-trust companies report 74% less stress, 50% higher productivity and 106% more energy at work.
What's the secret? Coach rather than dictate, encourage your employees to continuously improve and develop instead of giving orders like a traditional "boss". Employees value appreciation and senior managers that are able to recognise hard work are more likely to see these employees stay in the company, as 46% of US workers left their job as they felt unappreciated.
Listening actively can be powerful in building trust among the workplace too and this is the case whether you are speaking with clients or employees within the business. This can be achieved by keeping eye contact, asking questions and by summarising the conversation, which shows how actively you have been listening, this also gives the opportunity for the speaker to correct you if you might have misheard something.
Read further and find secret tips on how to thrive as a team (3 min)
Discovered by - Sally Nettleton, Co-Founder / Head of Content & Culture
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We would love to know anything Brilliant, Brave, Kind, or Magical that's going on in your world that you'd like to share... we may even feature it in next weeks issue.
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