Spiders and how to tell your POV

Think. Write. Lead. - Issue #77

I just read a fantastic science fiction novel about a scientific experiment that unexpectedly kickstarted the evolution of an advanced spider civilization on a distant planet.

Yep, that’s a mouthful.

The author weaves an intricate story with elements of space travel, AI, terraforming, evolution, biology, religion, chemistry, and even psychology.

The result is a retelling of sorts of the story of the human race through the eyes (and minds) of spiders.

Well, there are also humans in space and lots more in this story.

The thing is that as I read it, I was able to make associations between parts of the story and real historical events, even though the author didn’t make that connection explicit.

For example, at some point, the spiders start having consciousness of what is happening in the sky above them and are able to receive a signal from the human satellite orbiting around their planet.

The spiders, however, communicate not through spoken language, but through vibrations and movements.

So, they only get the vibrations of the radio signals from the satellite.

They try to interpret the messages from the sky (“from God”) and come up with different points of view—resulting in what I would call different sects or religions.

In the end, it’s through mathematical formulas that the spiders are able to communicate with the satellite.

And although the story doesn’t stop to explain or discuss the evolution of religious beliefs, you suspect that the author is communicating a particular point of view:

Opposing religious beliefs (and wars) come from our inability to interpret the secrets of the universe. And science it’s the best way to interpret those secrets.

But the author didn’t say it. He weaved his POV into the story, which made it more impactful and memorable.

That’s the power of analogies and storytelling.

And you should use them in thought leadership to communicate your POV.

THINK.

• What are some analogies from daily life that you can use to explain your point of view with clarity?

• What are some relatable stories you can tell to illustrate your points with impact?

WRITE.

Take a look at these examples of analogies:

• Writing is like cooking

• A business is like a rock band

• Publishing is like a tall building

Now pick a topic you write a lot about or that your audience cares about and come up with an analogy to explain it.

An analogy is simply a comparison between two things, finding parallels or similarities.

LEAD.

In his book, The Art of Explanation, Lee LeFever says:

“Explanation is not focused on facts, laws, or specifics. Explanation is the art of showing why the facts, laws, and specifics make sense. By clarifying the reason an idea makes sense, we can put the facts into perspective. As such, explanation is the practice of packaging facts into a form that makes them easier to understand and apply.”

A thought leader goes beyond facts and figures and distills the why of things.

A thought leader transcends theory and teaches how to apply knowledge.

Lead with insightful perspectives. Lead by example.

P.S. The spidey book is Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky.