Supervillain Lessons #2: Give in to the urge to explain.

One of the best scenes in Pixar’s The Incredibles involves two superheroes discussing the absurdity of the Supervillain monologue, and how it inevitably ends up giving the hero enough time to escape.

It might be a flaw, but Supervillains understand the importance of exposition.

Just because you’re winning, doesn’t mean explaining yourself is a luxury.  Taking the time to clearly explain what you’re doing, why you’re winning, and what you’re going to do after is almost always a good idea.  You can use that explanation to win allies, calm fears, and warn people about complex or uncomfortable changes down the road.

Acting in secrecy is great, but once you’ve made an announcement, there is often great value in letting people know that you have a roadmap, that you’ve thought this through, and that there’s an endgame.

That said, when you decide to take some exposition time, make sure you wait until you’re past the point when someone understanding your plans would make them capable of derailing them.