Taylor Swift is a damn good writer. Her songs are not only addictive anthems of love and heartbreak but are also poetic reflections on society, moral values, and human connection.
But what can her legendary lyrics teach us comms professionals?
From the significance of strategic planning to navigating gender biases, from the art of collaboration to the importance of data-driven decision-making, Taylor’s words are pitch-perfect pearls of wisdom.
Feeling sceptical? I knew you were trouble. It’s time to shake it off and delve into these 13 Taylor-inspired takeaways…
1. “Fail to plan then you plan to fail. Strategy sets the scene for the tale.” – Mastermind, Midnights
She’s right about that! Start by defining your SMART objectives – this is the foundation for a successful strategy. It should provide purpose, direction and clarity, so everyone knows the part they have to play.
2. “Never be so polite, you forget your power. Never wield such power, you forget to be polite.” – Marjorie, Evermore
As a communications professional, it’s important to recognise and leverage your influence. We know how hard it can be to get a seat at the top table, so once you get it, ask yourself who else needs to be enabled, empowered and invited in.
3. “I’m so sick of running as fast as I can, wondering if I’d get there quicker if I was a man.” – The Man, Lover
This one speaks for itself. Gender inequality should be high on the agenda for leadership, HR, comms, OD and EDI teams. Take time to listen and learn from real employee experiences about exclusion and harassment and build inclusive campaigns that educate and advocate for change. Just like our microaggressions project with British Red Cross!
4. “I have to say, by the way, I just may, like some explanations.” – Question, Midnights
Received another request for a pointless piece of comms? We hear you. Asking for clarity about how each request fits into your organisation’s strategical goals may encourage colleagues to think twice before hitting send.
5. “I could build a castle out of all the bricks they threw at me.” – New Romantics, 1989
Taylor’s all about using setbacks as stepping stones to success. Whether you’re dealing with a media frenzy, tighter budgets, or structural changes, every challenge is an opportunity to learn, grow, and become a stronger, more resilient contributor to the wonderful world of comms.
6. “You play stupid games you win stupid prizes.” – Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince, Lover.
Too much trivial comms leads to too many trivial outcomes. To win gold, map out meaningful campaigns throughout the year by using feedback and insights from your staff networks – what do they want to see and hear via which channels?
7. “There ain’t no I in team.” – ME!, Lover
Collaboration is key, and it really helps when you get to know each other. Why not use the manual of ME template so people can share their different learning and communication styles, pronouns, coffee order, favourite snack, how they like to receive feedback… Anything is possible!
8. “We never painted by the numbers, baby. But we were making it count.” – the 1, Folklore
Dare to be different. Whether you’re looking to shake up your brand or bin an outdated policy, be creative and challenge the status quo. Did you know we run creativity workshops to help you do exactly that?
9. “She needed cold hard proof, so I gave her some.” – Vigilante sh*t, Midnights
Data-driven decisions are the backbone of effective communication strategies. From internal demographic data to paid advertising performance, it’s crucial that you gather stats and facts to influence and inform decision-making.
10. “Long live all the mountains we moved; I had the time of my life fighting dragons with you.” – Long Live, Speak Now
You couldn’t do it without the people in your corner. Cherish their support, show your appreciation, celebrate victories together while giving credit where it’s due, and tackle each new fiery challenge as a united front.
11. “But you say it in a Tweet, that’s a cop-out. And I’m just like, hey, are you okay?” – You Need to Calm Down, Lover
Dealing with trolls? We’ve all been there. Just remember, they’ve got nothing better to do – but you do. You can rise above it. Why not write down your frustrations like Taylor did? Never know, it could be a hit!
12. “Maybe this thing was a masterpiece ’til you tore it all up” – All too Well, Red
Can you just add in this extra copy line? Can we make the logo bigger? Can we make it purple? As communicators we know all too well what happens when design by committee goes too far. Trust in your experience and expertise and strive for cohesion over compromise.
13. “Familiarity breeds contempt” – Bejewelled, Midnights
While familiarity is necessary from time to time, don’t let that stop you from exploring new, bold and creative ideas. What will shock, surprise or move your target audience? If you’re on the hunt for inspiration, check out our Ideas Everywhere page!
Whether you’re working on an external recruitment campaign, communicating change or navigating the outcomes of your latest internal staff survey, a strong strategy, inclusive approach, commitment to creativity, and effective teamwork will surely make sparks fly.
If you fancy some support or have any other lyric-inspired lessons to share with us, speak now and email Hello@AliveWithIdeas.com.
By Lauren Castle for Alive!