The target of your communications probably doesn’t react to them the way you would. They might want more facts. They might want more background. They might want to hear more about the impact on people. Or they might want more bright colours and new ideas than you would. This applies if you’re pitching a sales proposal for your tech venture, writing a customer email or talking with your team in the office.

Huia (GoodSense), Mike (Kokako), Rachel (Sustainable Business Network)

Whatever your audience, it will be comprised of a significant number of people who prefer to be communicated with differently to you. In over 25 years of marketing and communication work, TetraMap is by far the most powerful tool I’ve come across for understanding this. And for enabling us all to act on that knowledge to improve the effectiveness of how we communicate. Better communication makes us happier in our roles and more successful in our business dealings, or marketing endeavors. That’s why we included a taste of TetraMap™ at our GoodSense Do on 12th of March, held at The Lunchroom, a hidden gem with great design and fab, local organic food. It was a great way to thank our clients and share some of the treasure TetraMap is. You can see pictures from the event throughout this post and in the gallery at the end.

Craig and Donna (Davis Funerals), Kath (GoodSense), Fiona and Jeff (Added Insight)

TetraMap, is a globally proven communication framework and approach developed right here in Aotearoa NZ and exported internationally, to clients including Deutsche Bank, the Singapore Armed Forces, Nationwide Building Society, Myer Wellington City Council, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare and The Sustainable Business Network amongst others. It’s designed to transform team performance and has certainly turned some potential irritations between GoodSense team members into insights – creating laughter where there might have otherwise been tears.

We work with TetraMap as clients of GoodSense, as a model for our own team performance and as Certified TetraMap facilitators. The more we get to know it, the more powerful we discover it can be. And the more fun we have with it. The case studies from other TetraMap users are good evidence of its power and potential. TetraMap is a fast, intuitive and simple system for understanding how we behave differently in response to the same things. It uses the four elements of nature as an internationally recognised metaphor for describing our different preferences.

Kath and Jo delivering TetraMap during the Do

These can be briefly summarised as:

Earth Element

Earth: Firm like a mountain. Confident. Goals, control and winning are important. Quick, possible risky decisions come easily.

Air Element

Air: Clear like the wind. Orderly and focused. Logical solutions, listen and plan to ensure accuracy and quality.

Water Element

Water: Calm like a lake. Caring and consistent. Help hold families and teams together. Loyal and deeply feeling. Steadfast and patient. Desire harmony.

Fire Element

Fire: Bright like the sun. Love to explore possibilities and inspire others. Often colourful, love variety and have a great sense of fun.

©TetraMap International

Volunteers representing elements of TetraMap. Rachel – Fire (Sustainable Business Network), Jason – Earth (Deptive), Alex – Air (BVO), Jay-Jay – Water (The Lunchroom)

Which one of these most sounds like you? And how might you communicate more effectively with someone who is most like one of the other elements? I can’t think of when more effective communication is ever a bad thing. Whether it brings us better results, makes things clearer, fosters better relationships or makes life more fun, it’s all good.

Jane and Annalise (Happiness Toolbox), Louise (middle) (GM -TetraMap International)

At GoodSense it helps us understand each other, and our clients, better and it helps us produce more effective marketing. You can read more facts about TetraMap, see more about the system or watch a short video here. You can also call me about it anytime and test how effectively I shape my natural Fire element behaviour to your communication needs. Here’s hoping you catch me at a good moment! Kath Dewar +64 (0) 9 973 0963 or email kath@goodsense.co.nz.

Kath having an expressive ‘fire’ moment