Soft Power

 Hello all! Hope your weekend was a relaxing one ka.

For these two Tuesdays, the Learn Plern Plern podcast discusses the topic of 'Soft Power', which is so very interesting and different from its definition and the real-life usage ka.

Our first guest is Assistant Prof. Pranee Thiparat (a Fulbright alumna ka!) a true scholar who never gets scared of 'ท้วร์ลง' (bombarded by social media comments). She shares Joseph Nye's definition, which reads, 'power (of a nation, state, alliance, etc.) deriving from economic and cultural influence, rather than coercion or military strength', as part of public diplomacy. 

She thinks our society has been using it without much understanding, e.g. when Lisa Blackpink ate mango and sticky rice, Thais would say it was soft power. The key term to cite it as 'soft power' is when another country's ideology or values are ADOPTED by the targeted group/country, thinking of the values on democracy and human rights ka.

It's possible for us not to use 'Soft Power' too strictly as defined....yet, it should mean a positive attitude toward one's country or some ways of life, not just little things that may stay on for only once or even for a short period of time for people to run after the 'trend'.

Knowing that countries tend to use entertainment as a 'soft power tool', I invited my student/star, Thanongsak Supasup, to be our second guest, broadcast tomorrow ka. He's a realist to point out that the use of entertainment business is fine. Yet, much more cooperation and support are needed continuously. The Government and the private sector have to be serious while the producers need to cross the survival line and not be too profit-oriented. On the other end, quite a number of Thai consumers enjoy far too much into some undesirable scenes especially physical violence ka.

He himself tries with only a little success to touch on the scripts. In any way, he thinks of himself as a presenter to offer some beneficial aspects of life to his community, particularly, running (and his inspirational talks). I'd consider it a soft power side na ka.

My own summary for 'Soft Power' is to put it into 3 categories ka:

1. Joseph Nye's definition to persuade people to adopt values without force (basically by superpowers who also stress on their national interests)

2. The less strict sense to mean a positive attitude toward one country's culture or ways of living to follow the practices in their cultures....respective governments have to be strategic (what strengths to present and how) with funding and synergy (plus image) to push through

3. Introducing some good practices in life for others to gradually follow for well-being 

Sure hope our listeners find the two shows helpful to their daily lives/work ka.

More choices are desirable?

 Hello all! Happy with the long weekend na ka!

I like a podcast program produced by Khun Rawit  Hanutsaha, sharing key points and his thoughts about a book entitled, 'The Paradox of Choice' by Barry Schwartz,  inspired by Sheena S. Iyengar and Mark Lepper on, 'When Choice is Demotivating: Can One Desire Too Much of a Good Thing?', 2000 (https://faculty.washington.edu/jdb/345/345%20Articles/Iyengar%20%26%20Lepper%20(2000).pdf).

Wikipedia has summarized by Barry Schwartz as follows ka:

'Autonomy and freedom of choice are critical to our well being, and choice is critical to freedom and autonomy. Nonetheless, though modern Americans have more choice than any group of people ever has before, and thus, presumably, more freedom and autonomy, we don't seem to be benefiting from it psychologically.'  

When checking ChatGPT, here's the response ka:

In essence, "The Paradox of Choice" highlights the need for a balance between having choices and avoiding excessive decision fatigue. By understanding the psychological effects of choice overload, individuals can navigate decision-making in a more mindful and satisfying way.

Which do you like ka?

Khun Rawit's episode and the two summaries led me to think of what I experienced back to the time when I was with Fulbright to deal with our young American grantees ka. Then, whatever we wanted to offer, we had to think of several options for them to feel empowered to make their decisions. I see more younger Thais favor it this way as time goes by. Several options, not too many, are good ka!

Anyway, the choice issue isn't simply about the numbers ka. Americans have been given far too many choices like 160 shampoo/conditioner and 185 brands of cookies in a smaller US supermarket. Yet, the fact is that too many choices take up so much of our time that we would get 'decision fatigue' and feel less satisfied. Moreover, with too many choices, there's a tendency for people not to choose anything after all, even that particular project/product could benefit them.

'More is less' has become more practical to the point that the decision fatigue could see some premium new business models like Omakase -- fine dining from the Chef's choice instead....no decision is needed loei ka!?!

I'm using ChatGPT's answer with my own about strategies for coping with the paradox of choice, to read: limit choices, be satisfied with what we've chosen even it may not be the best, decide what will minimize regrets in the long run, be mindful of expectations, and focus what’s important to us. 

With the help, my egroup messages will be much easier to write, not to be taken over ka!

Two stories

 Hello all! I came back from Chiang Rai last night and now I have two stories to share....totally different, one from a 'David Foster concert' and the other at the Donmuang airport ka.

The first was at the concert to enjoy many of our favorite songs that brought  back memories dee mak loei ka. And here's the story:

I happened to sit next to two women in their late 20's or early 30's I guess.  Their two hands holding two beers  surprised me and I was even more surprised to notice that they went out to buy another set of beer.

Didn't realize they allow beer to be drunk in concerts nor how young Thais turn to be heavy beer drinkers! Sorry if I generalize the latter kaa!

The second from the Donmuang waiting room for public taxis. We need to get a ticket to know our queue number at the entrance. We can wait for a calling machine for our turn to get a taxi or we can look at the electronic board to know which booth to go to when it's our queue.

Last night the electronic board was out of order so we needed to listen to the announcement instead. Immediately, I felt so sorry for quite a few foreigners who were lost as to how they would know when it was their turn as it was in Thai ka. One lady went to offer her help while a few others were simply standing, trying to work out how. I approached two and one could understand Thai numbers. The other didn't know the process.

Two questions popped up ka: If I were one on the management team there, what would I do? How could Thailand become a tourist preferred choice if it doesn't seem to accommodate foreigners enough?

My answers were: 

1) I'd assign one person to be around to assist foreigners at the spot right away.

2) If they don't have a back-up plan, it's needed with communication to all concerned about the steps to do when the system breaks down from apology to assistance of some kind with expected time to return to normal. The back office has to ask their suppliers/technicians to fix it fast ka.

Any comment from these two stories mai ka?

Powerful usage of words

 It must be a very happy long weekend to many especially government officials na ka.

I haven't shared much from what I get out of book summaries so let me do it from 'Magic Words: What to Say to Get Your Way' by Jonah Berger, 2023. sanuk sanuk to speak with power, which will be convincing and hard to disagree!  

Here are a few I'd like to highlight ka:

• Research finds that turning actions into identities can shape how others are perceived. 

The author says if we want people to lead, ask them to be 'leaders', if they run, they are 'runners', if we don't want them to lie, tell them 'not to be liars!' Sound more powerful mai ka?

• Change Can’ts to Don’ts

I guess this is psychological ka. Instead of saying, 'I can't do it.', use 'I don't......' to show that we still have some little room for comfort na ka. The author's example is, 'I can't eat sweets right now. vs I don't eat sweets right now'.  

• Turn Shoulds into Coulds: 
  

'Could' sounds more positive with more room to think further as in an example about what we 'could do' instead of what we 'should do'.

Think carefully about using pronouns like “I” and “you.” They can draw attention and take ownership, but they also suggest responsibility and blame. 

• More indirect when dealing with opposing viewpoints

Sounds like our usual ways of Thai people somehow ka.....I guess it's me too who tend to be less direct (and could be less powerful at times!)

• Don't  “uh,” “um,” and “er,”  a lot to sound hesitant, less powerful, less effective

It may turn to be some undesirable habits too, I think. We have to be aware of how we communicate to rid them .... similar to the use of 'like' as 'แบบ' in Thai lae ka.

• Make the abstract concrete

I was told a few times that I need to be more concrete to be better understood. This book summary makes me feel a little better (just a little ka!) to point out that 'The more people learn about something, the more they naturally start to think about it abstractly.', meaning I may have acquired some more deeper knowledge:))!

BUT (big but kaa!), the most important is to send messages across so the more concrete, the better kaa!

•  Make people feel heard (what is so very much needed these days for all generations na ka)

These include our attention paid and expression to show understanding. I'd like to add that some follow-on questions can work well too ka.

Anything you like mai ka?