Equip every diplomat with a story tool to give.
technique — attributed to Jonathan Steffert
Steffert equips New Zealand diplomats with a pocket full of friendship pins and other small items that tell the country's story. A diplomat working a crowded reception who wants more time with a new contact can remove a pin from their own shirt and give it, with a request for a coffee meeting. The act of giving from one's own person creates a lasting impression that pulling something from a pocket does not. The Maori word manaaki describes the care behind the gesture: care for the contact, care for the connection, generosity that says our connection is important to me. The practice generalizes. Any team representing an organization can carry a small item whose giving anchors the relationship.
For diplomatic teams, conference representatives, and salespeople thinking about how to anchor first encounters with a memorable gesture. The technique requires the item to have story behind it, not just branding.
friendship-pins, manaaki, diplomatic-tools, giving