Show emotion in your work, we’re all human
Don’t be afraid to show emotion in your work.
This doesn’t mean breaking down into tears or raising your voice, but recognising that at our core, we’re all human.
Throughout my career, I’ve leaned towards being methodical and logical, traits which undoubtedly serve as strengths. However, in an era dominated by remote and asynchronous communication, primarily through text rather than voice or video, it’s all too easy to sideline our personalities in our exchanges.
We must not forget that we thrive on human connection.
Incorporating personal touches into your communications, particularly when relying heavily on asynchronous methods, can make a huge difference.
Whether it’s a funny story, an exciting weekend adventure, a new hobby, or even the latest project you’re proud of (like the guitar pickups I recently built 🎸), sharing these parts of ourselves can transform the way we work together.
A guitar pickup I built 😀
The moments that stick with you after a conversation are often the unique, quirky details shared by others, not the mundane, work-centric exchanges.
I’ll give you an example:
This one time, my smile opened a closed door…
A few years back, I applied for a role at a remote design agency.
This was the early days of remote work (circa 2016), and the application process was unique; we were asked to submit a video introducing ourselves and explaining our interest in the role.
I recorded several takes, ensuring I covered the essentials expected in a traditional interview: my CV, experience, skills, and the variety of projects I had worked on.
After sending my video, I received a response from the company’s CEO (shout out to Mel Ng). She mentioned that although applications had already closed for the role, my video caught her attention—specifically, the little smile I flashed at the very end.
Despite the formality and lack of personality in the rest of my video, it was that brief moment of warmth that made her want to engage with me.
Fast forward, and I was offered the job and had the chance to work with an amazing team.
Reflecting on this experience, I realised the significant impact that showing even a small part of my personality had on my professional journey… and this has stuck with me ever since.
The photo above is me from that interview video back in 2016. I suppose the bass guitar and snake toy in the background added some personality too 😆
The most impactful connections come from sharing who we are.
Why not challenge yourself to bring out more of who you are in your professional life.
With that said, as a little personal touch from me to you, here’s a photo of my dog Gibson and I from our walk last weekend…
Tell me something about yourself that ISN’T work related.
