The Power of "Show, Don't Tell"

Scenario One:- Shruti was a solid team player. She worked hard and uplifted her colleagues?

Scenario Two:- With a project deadline looming, Shruti stuck around late, scribbling ideas on a whiteboard with a teammate who was totally lost. By midnight, they had a plan, and the next day, their pitch landed the client. 

Which one of these scenarios grabs you, helps you paint a picture, and offers better insights into Shruti’s work?

Which one shows Shruti’s efforts and impact, and which one simply tells that Shruti was a great team player?

The answer is straightforward, the second scenario offers much better insights. 

That’s “Show, Don’t Tell” in action for you, one powerful approach that can elevate your MBA application from “good” to “stellar”. 

What is “Show, Don’t Tell”?

“Show, Don’t Tell” is an effective writing approach that emphasizes using concrete examples to show leadership and impact instead of making abstract claims. It is about showing your actions, your impact, and your wins rather than tossing out big claims about being a strong leader, an analytical problem-solver, or a team-player.

Let’s look at another example from an MBA essay. 

Scenario One: I’m proactive and take initiative when challenges arise.

Scenario Two: When our intern-led social campaign started losing traction, I noticed most engagement came from one specific region. I proposed a pivot: localized content in that region's dialect, even filmed a short video myself to test the idea. Within a week, engagement doubled and leadership asked me to roll the format out across three markets.

While the first one is a Yawn, the second one pulls the reader into the story by showing initiative, adaptability, and problem-solving skills.

“Show, Don’t Tell” isn’t about exaggerating the actual experience. It's about clearly illustrating the situation, your actions, and the outcome. 

Alongside essays, it's a powerful approach to writing LORs as well. Nudge your referees to not limit their LORs to generic claims like “he’s a great team player” or “he’s a natural leader”. Request them to include vivid examples and data that bring your contributions to life. 

Why Showing is better than Telling? 

What makes “Show, Don’t Tell” such a game-changer for MBA applications?

Admission officers are buried in thousands of essays. Essays that say “I am a creative person” or “I am a team player” don’t hit home with MBA admission committees. 

However, delving into an actual example where you pulled a project out of fire or guided team mentors to deliver a project within a tight deadline will stick with the admission officers. 

Showcasing your work through detailed examples serves as a proof, ultimately building trust and credibility for your candidacy. 

Additionally, a vivid, well-told story supported by specific information and data makes your story memorable. 

How to Show and Not Tell 

1. Use STAR Framework

Structure your story using Situation, Task, Action, and Result. It helps you stay concise while giving the reader a thorough understanding of the context as well as your impact.

2. Zoom in on Specific Moments  

Focus on one moment or instance, and explain that in detail rather than just touching upon your every single accomplishment. Identify the traits that you want to convey, be it leadership, creative problem solving, adaptability, and bring it to life through that specific story. 

3. Highlight your specific role

Always remember that your MBA essays are about you and not your team. It’s an opportunity to showcase your personality, accomplishments, and impact. Even when talking about a team project, make your role clear. Talk about What decisions did you make? What actions did you personally take that drove things forward?

When is Telling Okay 

While Showing without explicitly telling can elevate your essays, there are moments when a bit of telling is not acceptable, but might be essential. If you’re explaining something highly technical, industry-specific, or nuanced that the reader might not understand without background, then “telling” directly can help set the stage.

Example (Telling)

At a fast-growing fintech startup, I managed partnerships with regional banks to enable digital lending in underserved markets.

This line tells the reader what you do and why it matters, giving the readers enough background to appreciate your actions and results 

Once you’ve laid the foundation, transition into showing your role and impact:

Example (Showing)

When one partner flagged a 40% loan drop due to delays in our verification system, I coordinated between our product and compliance teams, redesigned the KYC workflow, and piloted a new API integration. Within a month, we cut onboarding time by 60%, restoring loan volumes and expanding the partnership to three new regions.

Here, you’re showing your actions and impact through a concrete, memorable story.

To Sum it up, Use telling to orient the reader. Use showing to win them over.