The Importance of Demonstrating your Work: A Lesson from Halli Thorleifsson’s Viral Twitter Thread
In the world of business, there’s arguably no better person to have backing you than Elon Musk. As the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, Musk has developed a reputation for being a formidable thinker and a driving force in innovation. But as the recent viral Twitter thread featuring Musk and Halli Thorleifsson demonstrates, even the most talented and successful leaders can be demanding when it comes to evaluating the work of their team members.
The Twitter thread, which has garnered significant attention since it was posted online, began innocuously enough. Thorleifsson, a software developer who works for Musk’s companies, shared a tweet on January 31st, 2022, congratulating his fellow Icelanders on their national holiday. In response, Musk asked him what work he had done for the firm.
Thorleifsson gamely replied, sharing a screenshot of a lengthy email he had sent to Musk detailing his work on a program that he believed had helped save Tesla millions of dollars in costs. The email had gone unanswered, and Thorleifsson had moved on to other projects.
View post on imgur.com
Musk’s response was not what Thorleifsson was expecting. In a series of tweets, he criticized Thorleifsson’s approach to demonstrating his value to the company, pointing out that “you should never assume someone will read your email.” Musk went on to suggest that Thorleifsson should have made a video demonstrating his work, and that he should constantly be seeking to prove his value to the company.
View post on imgur.com
While the Twitter exchange was light-hearted in tone, it points to an important lesson for anyone working in a competitive, fast-paced industry. Namely, it’s not enough simply to do good work. You must also be proactive in demonstrating the value and impact of that work to others, particularly those in positions of authority.
One reason why this is so essential is that there is often a mismatch between an employee’s perception of their performance and their manager’s perception. According to survey data compiled by the Harvard Business Review, employees tend to rate their performance higher than their managers do, by a margin of 35%. This gap can be particularly pronounced for high-performing employees who may be unaware of areas where they could improve.
Demonstrating your work is also vital when it comes to securing new opportunities within a company or industry. In the world of tech, where competition for top talent is fierce and technology is constantly evolving, it’s essential to be able to show that you have the skills, creativity, and drive to take on new challenges.
Adding video demonstrations to your approach
So how can employees like Thorleifsson better demonstrate their value to those in positions of authority? One answer, as suggested by Musk, is through the use of video. A well-crafted video can offer a concise and engaging way to showcase your skills and achievements. Video can be particularly valuable when it comes to visualizing complex tech processes that may be difficult to describe in writing.
In the case of Thorleifsson, he may have been able to win over Musk if he had created a short video demonstrating the impact of his work on the company’s bottom line. This approach would have offered a clear, concrete example of the ways in which his contributions were making a difference.
View post on imgur.com
In addition to creating video demonstrations, there are other strategies that can help employees to showcase their value. These include:
- Keeping clear records of achievements and sharing them regularly with managers and colleagues
- Developing a “career portfolio” that includes examples of work, testimonials from clients or managers, and other evidence of your skills and accomplishments
- Seeking out opportunities to take on new projects or responsibilities that showcase your abilities, whether that involves volunteering for a challenging assignment or offering to lead a team on a new project
Ultimately, demonstrating your work is about more than just building a better relationshipSponsored Product with your boss. It’s about taking control of your career and setting yourself up for success in a competitive industry. By finding proactive ways to showcase your value to others, you can position yourself as a skilled and dedicated contributor who is ready to take on new challenges and grow your career.
