You might think the skill of “storytelling” has no place in the profession of physics. The very word conjures up uncomfortable thoughts of Hollywood and the distortions of science created under the cover of artistic license. The Core, which is my vote for all time worst (and most hilarious) abuse of physics in cinema, comes to mind. Physicists are people, however, and studies show time and again that people retain information better when it is presented in the form of a story. After all, we read our children bedtime stories, not bedtime bullet points.
The only metrics of success when we communicate with others are how well they first understand and second retain what we have to say. Since stories are the form of communication people most easily understand and retain, stories are how you should communicate whenever possible. This is not as hard as you might think at first. I will use an episode from my own career as a concrete example. First, I will summarize what I did in the bullet form so common in reports, Power Point slide decks, etc. Then I will present the same information in story form.
Bullet Version:
- Led a special project to investigate neutral gas concentrations in a prototype plasma (ionized gas) confinement device.
- Successfully organized multiple diagnosticians to combine data from various instruments and calculate the neutral particle density profile in time for an important company review panel.
- Ruled out excessive neutral gas concentration as the main cause of power losses in the device and paved the way for later identification of the true cause.
- Fast and professional execution of this first-of-a-kind company project built investor confidence and helped secure the next round of funding.
Story Version:
I am often called upon to lead special project teams lasting a few months to a year. In one case, I organized and led a team investigating the concentration of neutral gas in our prototype plasma (ionized gas) confinement system. We expend a great deal of energy trying to heat the plasma in the prototype device. At one point in the project, the plasma was not getting as hot as it should have given the power input and further progress required understanding the responsible mechanism. One candidate, high neutral gas density, can rapidly cool the plasma if it comes into contact with it. Determining the neutral gas density near the plasma is a difficult exercise that requires simultaneously measuring the temperature and density of the plasma, as well as the intensity of spectral lines emitted by the neutral gas, and performing a sophisticated combined analysis of the data. In addition, the diagnostic systems involved were also the jurisdiction of different individuals, some of whom did not particularly like each other. Since this was one of the first company efforts to require a high degree of coordination between diagnostics, there was also no organizational precedent for how to proceed.
I was given approximately three months to arrive at a definitive answer to the neutral gas question and present it at a major review of the company’s technical progress. I spent much of that time coordinating the efforts of the scientists involved, smoothing over disputes where necessary, and generally leading by persuasion. Together, we were able to successfully demonstrate to the review panel that the neutral gas concentrations in the prototype device were too low to explain the power losses observed in the system. This elimination of a likely suspect paved the way for the later identification and correction of the real source of the power drain. My leadership of this special project team and their hard work played a significant part in building investor confidence and securing the company’s next round of funding.
Which did you find more compelling? Which do you think you will have a better chance of remembering tomorrow? The smart money is on the story, not the bullet points. So, the next time you are writing an application or a resume, or conversing on an interview or at a conference, enhance the effect of your message by delivering it in a story.