2024 – The year of great expectations As we close the chapter on what was, we begin 2024 – the year of great expectations.
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nything is possible, as we begin the new year. I recently attended the EXSA conference and left the event with a new sense of self. The conference touched on current industry expectations for 2024, it looked at the importance of safety and how we could further streamline some processes, as well as on brand storytelling and AI, and lastly, how we perceive things. Read more in this February edition of Business Events Africa and find out who excelled in the EXSA-LLENCE Awards. Perceptions are one of the themes that really stuck with me. Perceptions are about emotions. In business, as in life, making emotional connections is critical. We generally do it through storytelling, sharing information about ourselves and, more importantly, our brand, as we are our brand after all.
I have always said that people buy from people, and with this idea of perception, we can even say that people buy from people that they like. It might sound really simplistic… but really, it is not. It is potentially a lifelong learning experience… of getting to know and building on the relationship that you have with your client, you have with your partners and that you have with suppliers. If you do it right, they can become good friends over time, or at least, good acquaintances. It is also about exceeding their expectations, delivering what you promise with integrity, and keeping your values, and ultimately, it comes down to trust. Without trust, the ‘good’ emotional connection disappears. This is something AI cannot do — add emotion or even understand emotion, as we do. This, in my opinion, is a good thing. It
Credit: Hein Liebetrau
EDITOR’S COMMENT
means that no matter how advanced AI is, now and in the future, our human qualities cannot be duplicated, to such an extent. This definitely makes me feel better about using AI. AI is still new to me… I am not afraid of technology, but I have generally been slow in taking on new technologies. After the EXSA Conference, I am definitely going to start playing with the AI available out there. We all must get comfortable with what is available and discover how it can add value to our daily lives. Don’t worry, I won’t be sending anyone automated robot messages! We all have to move with the times, but remember, there isn’t anything that can replace emotional connections. Make the best of 2024 — anything is possible!
Irene
Email: gomesi@iafrica.com
Image courtesy of Blueberry Hill Hotel, Johannesburg
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