Show versus Tell III

October 9, 2009 by Jerry

show_vs_tell_iii

Earlier this week you read the blog about the effective—and ineffective—use of voice-over in several current films. The effective was when the familiar narrative device provided commentary or character development; the ineffective when it was used as to advance the story. The latter is one of the cardinal sins of all forms of writing—including presentations—telling the story rather than showing. Since then, another film using voice-over has come to market and was met with stern criticism because it told rather than showed.

The film in question is The Invention of Lying, whose main premise is that of an alternative universe in which everyone tells the truth because lying does not exist—until Ricky Gervais, the star, co-writer, and co-director, invents it. Gervais gives the exposition of this premise at the very beginning of the film in a voice-over. Anthony Lane, the film critic for The New Yorker magazine explains why this was ineffective:

It is the first, small warning sign that the movie may not be firing right: what level of confidence
can you have in your own comic device—the conceit that will power the whole story—if you feel the
need to explain it before the drama gets under way?… [Gervais] seems to have mislaid the T-shirt
that is handed to every first-time movie director—the one that reads, “Show, Don’t Tell.”

The lesson for presenters is to “Show, Don’t Tell” your business story. At the risk of repetition (although that is the essence of coaching) the advice I offered in the prior blog is worth repeating here: Rather than merely talking about your business, its products or service, show it in action by illustrating it with examples, analogies, and case studies.

If not, perhaps you should locate that T-shirt.

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