I was on a flight recently where the attendant’s pre-flight announcements were anything but the usual.
“Welcome to flight 1402 to Cleveland [the flight was not to Cleveland]…Just kidding! But now you’re aaaallll looking up at me!”
The rest of his patter was just as unexpected. And I didn’t see a single person sleeping or looking at their phones. Nobody wanted to miss whatever he was going to say next.
It’s hard to get someone to pay attention when it’s the same as it was before that (and before that, and before that). But unexpected is new and exciting.
It’s not about shock value. It’s about caring enough to not just repeat what’s always been done.
So, the next time you’re planning a school dance, meeting with a student, or writing a college essay and start to feel stuck in a rut, like you just can’t get people to sit up and take notice, try trading the usual for something unexpected.