The Cheat Code for Clout—Show Your Work
Let’s start a revolution, but this time, let’s make sure it’s televised.
Let’s get real about clout. Not the kind that gets you fake internet points from random followers—you can leave that for “influencers”. I’m talking about real clout: the power to get people to actually listen, respect your work, and maybe stop underestimating you for once. Clout is your backstage pass to influence. And here’s a shocker—if you’re sitting around hoping people will just “get it” because your work is awesome, you’re doing it wrong.
Here’s the brutal truth: no one’s going to magically connect the dots between your late nights, research, tough decisions, and that final killer product you dropped. People see the shiny outcome and assume you breezed through it like a casual Saturday project. Remember, most people think creativity is some superpower—so they see what it is you do as a type of unearned gift, an untraceable super-skill as mythical as Wakandan Vibranium. And if you don’t step up and show them the chaos behind the curtain? Good luck with that clout.
So, why does clout matter? Because it’s leadership currency. You can’t buy respect and influence with silence—you earn it by showing people what it actually takes to lead and deliver results. Clout opens doors, gets you a seat at the table, gets you represented at tables you’re not invited to but where decisions are made, and—let’s be honest—makes people stop underestimating you. I’ve learned, people won’t respect what they can’t inspect. Showing your work is a huge part to leveling up and getting the recognition you’ve already earned, showing your work is the cheat code. Time to give people a backstage pass to your process.
Now, before you think, “Wait, am I supposed to document every step like a TikTok influencer?”—relax. You don’t need to turn your life into a reality show. But you do need to stop assuming people see the grind behind the shine. Showing your work isn’t about oversharing; it’s about making sure the complexity, creativity, and leadership actually get seen. Here’s why that matters and how to start putting it into practice without turning it into a human highlight reel.
1. People Don’t Get What They Don’t See
Let’s face it—everyone’s guilty of assuming things are easy when they only see the final product. You show up with a killer campaign or that perfectly executed project, and suddenly everyone thinks you knocked it out in an hour between coffee breaks. Spoiler alert: they’re wrong, and it’s your job to set them straight. By pulling back the curtain and showing the mess—the brainstorms, the setbacks, the tough calls—you’re letting people in on the real work. I’m not condoning you share trade secrets or anything proprietary, but I’d assert that a cryptic glimpse into some of It is when they start understanding the value of what you bring to the table.
Remember—people won’t respect what they can’t inspect. It’s like watching the highlights of a basketball game and assuming the team just magically scores points without effort. Sure, the game looks effortless when it’s broken down into highlight reels, but anyone who’s played knows there’s hours of practice, strategy, and decision-making that no one ever sees. Show your work, and people will finally understand what goes into every shot you take.
2. Show the Process, Show the Scale
Let’s be honest—sometimes the only reason stuff looks easy is because you’re good at it. But guess what? “Easy” doesn’t get the credit. If you don’t show the process, people will assume the end result just fell into your lap like some kind of leadership fairy sprinkled magic dust over the project.
Break it down for them. Take them behind the curtain. Document the roadblocks, the decisions, and the tiny details you obsessed over. People don’t know what they don’t see, and if you don’t show them the complexity, they’ll never understand the value of your contribution. This goes for clients, colleagues, and even higher-ups who might be watching from a distance. They see the polished final product and think it was a breeze—when, in reality, it was more like a hurricane behind the scenes.
3. Transparency Isn’t Weakness—It’s Strategy
Here’s a pro tip: letting people see the messy middle doesn’t make you look weak; it makes you look like you’re in control. When you show your team (or anyone else) how you arrive at decisions, they’re way more likely to trust the outcome. Transparency isn’t about oversharing; it’s about owning the process and letting people feel like they’re a part of the ride.
Trust me, when your team sees how you arrived at that decision—after you weighed five different options and threw out four—they’ll get why you’re in charge. And bonus: they’ll actually buy into the direction you’re taking. Plus, the more people understand the tough calls, the more they’ll back you up when things don’t go perfectly. Because let’s face it, no one bats 1.000 (yes, I’m as shocked as you are, I did indeed use a baseball reference). Showing your work humanizes you while also cementing your role as the leader in the room.
4. Control the Narrative or Someone Else Will
Here’s the truth: if you’re not out here showing people what it takes to get results, they’re going to write their own story about you—and it probably won’t include your sleepless nights and creative brilliance. When you show your work, you’re not just documenting the process; you’re owning the narrative. You’re saying, “Look, this is what I do, this is how I do it, and it’s a lot more complex than you think.” Otherwise, someone else will step in, fill in the blanks, and leave out all the parts that matter or worse, ascribe your success to someone or something else. (Overheard: “Oh, well of course they pulled that off, look how large their team is…”)
Think of it this way—would you rather people assume you got lucky, or would you prefer they recognize your strategic genius? If you’re not showing your work, you’re leaving your reputation up to chance. One thing I know is that the gossip mill won’t be nearly as flattering as the truth.
Bottom Line
If you want people to understand the complexity and value of your work, stop hiding it. Share updates, bring people behind the scenes, and show them how you got from point A to point B. It’s not about bragging; it’s about making sure people see the value in what you do. After all, no one can appreciate what they never see.
So, how do you actually do this without turning your life into a reality show? Here are six practical ways to start showing your work and building that clout:
Create or Update Your Portfolio Site Don’t just show the finished projects—break down your process. Include sketches, drafts, and notes to give people a sense of the complexity behind your best work. (I stand 10 toes down that you’re not a serious creative if you don’t have a portfolio in a shareable format—but, that’s another blog post for later.)
Use Social Media for Real-Time Looks Share the occasional “late-night grind” post on Instagram or Twitter. Let people see that while the work looks effortless, it took more than a few cups of coffee to get there.
Post Your Learnings and Tips on LinkedIn Instead of only sharing big wins, post about what you learned from tough projects or what went wrong (and how you fixed it). People respect the honesty and appreciate the insight.
Take People Behind the Scenes in Team Meetings Give your team a peek behind the curtain. Walk them through decisions and challenges so they understand why things happen the way they do.
Create “Process Highlights” on Your Website or Blog. Dedicate a section to your creative process—whether it’s for a campaign, design, or project. Share the drafts, revisions, and decisions that led to the final product.
Host a Workshop or Webinar to Share Your Expertise. Teach others how you do what you do. Whether it’s a webinar, workshop, or even a short video series, sharing your expertise builds authority and gives people an inside look into your world.
So next time you pull off that big win, don’t just slap the results on the table—show them how the sausage was made. You’ll thank yourself when the applause rolls in.#ShowYourWork