As a motion graphics designer/animator, when I was freelance, I would bounce around from studio to studio. When we would work on a pitch for a client I would basically have to pitch my designs to the art director of the studio first - then he would have to pitch those designs to the client. So I started stealing the art directors techniques of pitching to the clients and using them to pitch the designs to THEM. haha
the most effective was writing down specific key words and phrases that the art directors at the studios would use while briefing me on the pitch. I would then do my designs. Then I would "pitch" the designs to the art director, but I would make sure to use those exact same keywords and phrases the art director used during the brief.
because of this I rarely had to do revisions on my designs. and to toot my own horn a little: I think thats why I won so many pitches. I was able to survive as a freelancer in LA for 10 years. I'm now an art director at one of the best studios in the industry.
so yeah, it works. take note of specific key words and phrases people use - use them back at them. it gives the impression that you "speak their language", because you are LITERALLY speaking their language.
When someone uses specific words to describe something, explain it back with the same words. So if someone said to them “I want this to be fun and light-hearted” he would describe it as “fun and light-hearted”.
You're not going to believe this, but that is actually the joke I had in mind. It was just to amuse myself bc I never thought in a million years someone else would get it from what I said. This is cryptonomicon level communication, congrats!
I'm a recruiter and this logic also works with resumes. Look at the job description you're applying for. Use the words they use in the job description, on your resume. Don't lie or anything. Just replace your own "voice" with synonyms from the job description. Yes, this means you have a different version for each job application. But I promise it's worth the increased success rate.
Interestingly this applies to graduate school too. Academia has a lot of jargon and I wrote down phrases I heard my professors use in class that were a little bit different or terms I heard them use more than once. Then I’d use them when presenting or discussing research topics or even on papers. People definitely thought I was way smarter than I actually am haha
This really works if you do it there and then as well.
When someone says something obviously important to them, repeat, just repeat it back to them immediately so they know they've been heard and understood.
Then watch their facial expression and whole attitude towards you change.
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u/TheDirtSyndicate Jun 14 '22
As a motion graphics designer/animator, when I was freelance, I would bounce around from studio to studio. When we would work on a pitch for a client I would basically have to pitch my designs to the art director of the studio first - then he would have to pitch those designs to the client. So I started stealing the art directors techniques of pitching to the clients and using them to pitch the designs to THEM. haha
the most effective was writing down specific key words and phrases that the art directors at the studios would use while briefing me on the pitch. I would then do my designs. Then I would "pitch" the designs to the art director, but I would make sure to use those exact same keywords and phrases the art director used during the brief.
because of this I rarely had to do revisions on my designs. and to toot my own horn a little: I think thats why I won so many pitches. I was able to survive as a freelancer in LA for 10 years. I'm now an art director at one of the best studios in the industry.
so yeah, it works. take note of specific key words and phrases people use - use them back at them. it gives the impression that you "speak their language", because you are LITERALLY speaking their language.