Show, Don’t Tell. The Power of Demonstrating Your Skills

Some people tend to incessantly boast about their achievements.

I met someone at a networking event who monopolized the conversation with an extensive account of his accomplishments, travels, and life experiences. I was physically present, but my mind had wandered far away, eagerly awaiting the end of his self-praise.

People like that want to make sure you know about everything they’ve accomplished, every award they’ve won, and every amazing skill they have.

But their bragging usually backfires. Instead of being impressed, most of us just feel annoyed and tune them out.

You must have heard the saying “actions speak louder than words”.

This axiom is especially true for entrepreneurs and career professionals, in a world where people are constantly bombarded by assertions and boasts.

But how can you stand out from the crowd?

Simple — don’t just tell people how good you are, show them.

If you want to demonstrate how good you are and get people to notice, don’t just talk about being competent and successful — go out and earn it.

As Oprah Winfrey put it, “Turn your wounds into wisdom.”

In my research, I’ve found that the most impressive people tend to be relatively humble. They recognize that blowing your own horn usually comes across as obnoxious and self-absorbed.

So instead of telling people how great they are, they pour their energy into delivering outstanding work and serving others. They let their deeds speak for themselves.

Tooting your own horn may give you a temporary advantage, but in the long run, it’s your actions that will truly speak volumes.

After all, we’re living in an age where credibility is the new currency, and trust can’t be built on words alone.

So, if you’re a budding entrepreneur with a revolutionary product, don’t simply assure potential customers of its greatness.

Demonstrate it in action, let it solve real problems, and allow people to test its merits themselves. In the same vein, if you’re a seasoned professional looking to climb the corporate ladder, go beyond boasting about your skills in meetings. Roll up your sleeves, take on challenging assignments, and let your work do the talking.

Consider Bethany, a manager at a tech startup. She was put in charge of building a sales team from scratch. Bethany could have bragged to everyone about her prowess and told them how quickly she was going to scale revenue.

Instead, she went quietly to work recruiting talented reps, leading training programs, and tracking sales data.

Months later, the numbers spoke for themselves. Revenue had quintupled and the sales team was flourishing. When the CEO praised Bethany during an all-hands meeting, her humility and grace made employees respect her even more. She became known as the doer who got things done, not the talker who took credit.

Or take Jamal, a marketing director who joined a struggling nonprofit. Rather than boast about the expertise he would bring, he rolled up his sleeves, analyzed their messaging and digital presence, and got to work revamping them.

Bit by bit, the organization’s brand gained admiration and loyalty.

Two years later, donations had tripled their previous record. Yet Jamal deflected the praise and said it was only possible thanks to the hard work of his team. His colleagues, however, insisted the turnaround started with Jamal’s quietly determined leadership.

As author Harriet Braiker wrote, “Self-respect is to the soul what oxygen is to the body. The person who doesn’t have it is gasping for air.”

You earn self-respect through conduct that aligns with your values — not by popping your balloon.

Rather than telling people “I’m really funny” or “I’m super smart,” make them laugh and impress them with creative ideas. Don’t brag about your work ethic; arrive early, stay late, and maintain fierce focus.

Talk is cheap. If you’re going to make a difference in the world, as Ghandi said, you must be the change.

How to Show Not Tell

Here are some practical pointers:

• Offer tangible evidence: Whether it’s through the testimonials of satisfied customers or clear data showing your product’s performance, providing concrete proof goes a long way.
• Demonstrate your abilities in real-time: Participate actively in discussions, contribute valuable insights, and proactively address challenges.
• Continual self-improvement: Use every opportunity to learn and grow. Showcase your eagerness to improve and adapt as situations change.

So if you aspire to do work you can be proud of, don’t waste your breath on self-congratulations. Just make it happen. Tune out the temptation to posture, preach, and self-promote. Bring all your energy, passion and perseverance to the endeavour itself — and let your actions do the talking. They will speak volumes.

There’s no denying that telling can attract attention. But in the long run, showing is what cements relationships, builds trust, and leverages success — whether you’re a thriving entrepreneur or an ambitious career professional. So remember: don’t just tell people how good you are, show them.

© Buzzedison

Get step-by-step game plans to secure funding, build efficient systems, and scale your business the smart way delivered to your inbox weekly.

First Published on Medium