97 Things Every SRE Should Know

Chapter 34. Storytelling Is a Superpower

Anita Clarke

Shopify

Upon learning my job title would be Engineering Storyteller, I knew I was jumping into some Silicon Valley realness (even though I was in Toronto). It was the Valleyest of titles I’d ever heard—and I’ve heard some hilarious ones over the years. I chuckled when I told people; wouldn’t you? Only after my first story was published did I understand that the title was a brilliant distillation of my role.

So what is an engineering storyteller? Storytelling is a tradition passed down through the millennia, and it has survived because we are built to consume, create, and process the world through stories. Part of my role is to help SREs create smart and engaging technical stories and to find a home for them, whether they are written down in blog posts or told orally through presentations and podcasts.

When I do my job well, something unlocks in the world, and an explosion of excitement pours out from the sharing of information. I’m no longer surprised by the reaction. After all, great storytelling is a superpower that shows you’re engaged and passionate about the work you’re doing. It shows you have empathy for your peers and want to make collaboration and learning easier. Most important, it shows that not only do you want to share your ideas; you want people to understand them also.

A common misconception exists that working ...