the power of a personal hook
People don’t always like talking about themselves. It can feel self-promotional, awkward, or even braggy. But when you’re trying to engage others—whether in a meeting, presentation, everyday conversations, or even a data visualization—sharing something personal can be a powerful way to connect.
I was reminded to this yesterday while working with a group of high school seniors. They are preparing for upcoming Ted Talk-style presentations on their year-long research projects. We were workshopping how to introduce themselves in a way that felt natural and compelling. One student, Tatiana, struggled with this, sharing, “Everything I come up with sounds like I’m bragging. I don’t like talking about myself.”
Her project was on fashion design, and after chatting a bit it became clear that she wanted to communicate her passion for sewing. When I asked when she started sewing, she said, “Oh, when I was three.” There it was—the perfect hook! Instead of stating it outright in a way that might feel uncomfortable to her, we flipped it around to invite the audience in:
Imagine yourself at age three. What was something you loved to do? When I was three years old: I LOVED to sew. I’ve loved it ever since. My name is Tatiana, and my lifelong love of sewing is why I’d like to talk to you about fashion design today.
Suddenly, her introduction wasn’t just about her—it involved her audience, too. She wasn’t bragging; she was creating a shared moment, a point of connection.
Personal stories in data visualization
This technique isn’t just useful for presentations—it’s just as relevant in other forms of communication, including data visualization. My colleague Alex recently introduced an exercise in the SWD community in a way that immediately pulled people in. Instead of beginning with a dry explanation, she opened with a personal anecdote:
Even I, someone who once moved apartments because of a wolf spider in my closet, tried holding a tarantula at the zoo. Was it a good idea? No, I dropped it and screamed. But at the time, I just wanted to step outside of my comfort zone.
Before even getting to the data visualization challenge, Alex created an emotional connection. She made me laugh as she made herself relatable and sparked curiosity. Then she transitioned into the core lesson—how we sometimes want to “go crazy” in our visualizations, stepping outside the familiar to try something new.
Using this in your own work
Whether you’re giving a talk, writing a blog post, designing a data visualization, or simply having a conversation, consider how a personal hook can make those you’re communicating with more engaged. Instead of leading with facts, start with a relatable question or a short anecdote. Bring them into your world before guiding them through your information and message.
The goal isn’t just to tell a story—it’s to create a connection. Sometimes, the best way to do that is by sharing something personal.
