Show Your Work!

Imagine you are looking at two paintings. They are identical, as far as you can tell. But then you learn one of them was painted by a French master in the seventeenth century. The other one? A forgery. Now, look at them again. Do they still look the same?

Probably not. Even though nothing about the paintings has changed physically, you are now biased. The point is that our perception of things is influenced by what we know about those things. Artists like to think their work speaks for itself, but that’s just wishful thinking. The story of your work can be as powerful as the work itself. And to tell that story, you will have to do some speaking.

Here is the key message: Work does not speak for itself, so learn how to tell good stories!

This goes back to human curiosity; we want to know how things were made and where they come from. The stories you tell will affect people’s understanding of, and emotional response to, your work – which, in turn, will affect how they value it.?

So how do you tell a good story? First off, learn how to structure one. Almost all stories follow this universal formula: First, there is a problem. Then you work to solve the problem. Finally, you arrive at a solution.

You can apply this formula to your lifelong work arc, as well as to specific instances: client presentations, cover letters, grant proposals. Pitches, after all, are nothing more than glorified stories.

Learning to craft a good tale will take time and practice, but there are a few simple things you can do to boost your storytelling skills as you go. Keep your audience in mind, value their time, speak plainly, and – it goes without saying – use spell-check.?

Also, practice talking about yourself. If you are at a party and someone asks you what you do, you should be able to give an explanation, with humility and self-respect. And this explanation should be clear to anyone – whether it’s your niece, an elderly neighbor, or the guy sitting next to you at a bar. Be honest, always. If you are unemployed, for example, do not beat around the bush. Plainly state that fact, and then mention what kind of work you are interested in pursuing.?

The same goes for writing a report. Stick to the facts, and do not try to be cute. Short and sweet is the name of the game.

REFERENCES

Kleon, A. Show Your Work: 10 ways to share your creativity and get discovered. 2014.