Where this is Going
An epiphany that led to new directions (and results from the poll)
I’m taking a step back and looking at the future of this project, and how it fits into my professional life going forward. Also, find poll results from the Dinner Party series below.
You’ve probably had phases in your life where you have a goal, and whenever you have free time, you look forward to pursuing that goal. It could be learning a language, building a table, or simply reading. Writing is that thing for me, and the Vibes Project created a juicy new direction that has been a big part of my life. I currently write most days, often for hours at a time, if I can. I’m doing it right now. Wheeee!
Seriously, though, I had an epiphany a few months ago related to the project.
My career since 2007 has been based on my tiny company, Common Craft. Sachi and I are most known for creating the first “explainer” videos of the YouTube era, and that led to a career being known as an explainer, a badge I wear with honor.
My first book came out in 2012: The Art of Explanation (Wiley). It further established my reputation and expertise in clear communication. It’s been translated into seven languages and remains in print. This is all to say that my work and “day job” are centered on creating explanations and teaching explanation skills.
Looking back, a clash between these two parts of my life was inevitable. The idea of Vibes and the practice of explanation were bound to intersect. And that’s exactly what happened. It’s really quite simple:
Clear communication depends on shaping your points for your audience. The more you know about them, their interests, and their ways of thinking, the more you can get through to them. The problem is that this information isn’t obvious. You have to make guesses, hopefully informed ones.
I see Vibes as a kind of framework for thinking about people and how best to work with them. When we need to explain an idea, we can think about Vibes as different types of audience members and something that influences communication.
Are there more Analysts or Performers?
Would this analogy work for a Feeler?
How does my Vibe influence MY communication?
Since this came to me, I can’t stop thinking about it. The secret to clear communication is understanding the brains of the people in your audience. Since that is impossible, we have to improvise. Vibes provide a head start for thinking about those differences, which can help us create better explanations.
Imagine explaining a complicated idea to Erik the Analyst versus Lena the Feeler. Their Vibe, if you sense it, comes with data you can use to shape your message. That’s where this is going.
Your Turn
Take this idea for a spin. If you read the Dinner Party series and thought, “I know lots of Eriks and Lenas,” take that idea one step further and ask yourself, “How could I better connect with them by thinking about their vibe?” or, “How might I change what I say in order to work with their orientation?”
You may find that their Vibe offers a way into their mind that you never saw before.
The Survey Results
In the last issue, I asked readers to choose the dinner party guest that seems closest to their vibe. Here are the results across 17 respondants:
No surprises, I’d say. This kind of data is going to be a bigger part of th project going forward and I hope you’ll continue to participate!