I really liked this list. Like Pollock’s dripping, staining was another cutting-edge technique of the time. And if it’s the latter, he adds, “the more you can convey that to someone, the more likely they are to remember it and get some value from it.”, So, ask yourself: “Why do I think this subject is so cool?”. While explaining, look for nonverbal cues, such as nodding or frowning, that indicae the listener understands what you are saying. Customers won’t care about the bells and whistles if they don’t understand why your product exists and why it matters to them. You don’t want to appear condescending, but you still have to get the information across. As you explain a situation or idea, do so succinctly and give the person you are talking to a chance to both ask questions and provide feedback. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), How to explain anything to anyone: 4 steps to clearer communication. Not only is it uncomfortable but it’s also disheartening when what you’re saying is important, cool or valuable to the listener. Then, ask your friend to look at the painting as if it were a landscape. One way to do this is give examples that demonstrate how the subject is relevant to their lives can bring it to life for them. Explaining things to your customers is tricky. Whether learning new information or preparing for a test, flashcards can be a great way to review lots of information quickly. When you’re the speaker, “there are things you can do to improve this,” says Walliman. This will help you gauge your listener's understanding, in addition to providing you with an opportunity to clarify your point, if necessary. “You’re having a chat with someone, and they’re telling you something about a subject they’re very interested in or they know a lot about, and you’re following along. I don't have any developmental disorders, but I'm very horrible at explaining things simply and communicating my thoughts in general. All you need to do is find a better way to explain your subject. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Find a valuable lesson that you can profit or … “It’s better to come up with a simpler explanation that maybe isn’t completely technically correct but it gets the point across,” Walliman says. To help you walk this line, HBR offers a few battle-tested tips for explaining things to customers. Instead, try to focus on the bigger picture (pun intended). Anna Green has been published in the "Journal of Counselor Education and Supervision" and has been featured regularly in "Counseling News and Notes," Keys Weekly newspapers, "Travel Host Magazine" and "Travel South." This post is part of TED’s “How to Be a Better Human” series, each of which contains a piece of helpful advice from people in the TED community; browse through all the posts here. That alone will take you anywhere you want to go esp. // Leaf Group Lifestyle, How to Be Persistent Without Being Annoying, How to Deal With a Colleague Who Suddenly Stops Speaking to Me, How to Confront Someone When You Believe They Are Deceiving You, Columbia University Department of Biological Sciences: How to Explain. Teaching others has been shown to be especially helpful in retaining information, meaning if you can teach someone else how to explain things you have the highest chance to remember yourself. Walliman has made this a speciality — he writes children’s books and makes YouTube videos about quantum physics, nanotechnology, relativity, rocket science and other traditionally dense topics — and he’s come up with four principles that can help you effectively communicate complex concepts. If she appears confused, take a moment to check in and directly ask if she understands you. LWA/Sharie Kennedy/Blend Images/Getty Images. The most viral news stories that you need to know about. The best way to improve anything is to practice it. Let’s say you and a friend are in an art museum. To think effectively, you have to think in ways that steer you toward success. “It’s always better to err on the side of caution.”. Here is a wonderful little paper, available as a PDF download from TechRepublic, about 10 ways in which we can all improve the way we explains things to others. Stop trying to look smart and start making your audience feel smart by building their knowledge and confidence. But when it comes to making an idea easy to understand, simple trumps clever. When Failure or Crisis Ensues, Always Think, “What Is the Lesson Here?” Remember, everything begins and ends with the brain-heart connection. Esp. She is the founder of a nonprofit mental health group and personal coaching service. As you explain a situation or idea, do so succinctly and give the person you are talking to a chance to both ask questions and provide feedback. Explaining things to your customers is tricky. Copyright © 2020 Leaf Group Ltd., all rights reserved. This may require your planning what you say in advance. You don’t want to appear condescending, but you still have to get the information across. You don’t want to appear condescending, but you still have to get the information across. Figuring out how to best explain your subject may take trial and error, so don’t get discouraged about sharing what you know. In the course of your work as a business analyst eliciting requirements, you may sometimes need to explain technical concepts to colleagues, sponsors and customers. Visit our About Us. Try to keep up.” Thanks for giving us a real handle on showing respect. “Have you ever had this experience?” asks physicist Dominic Walliman in a TEDxEastVan Talk. Taking into account a listener's age, developmental stage and level of understanding can provide a good starting point for explaining yourself in a way that is clear and understandable. We want others to think we’re smart because in most cases that’s rewarded. Communicate ideas effectively to Blrt. “It’s no good leaving a gap and starting from there because they’re not going to follow along.”, If you’re in doubt about what your listener already knows or comprehends, simply ask. Walliman has made this a speciality — he writes children’s books and makes YouTube videos about quantum physics, nanotechnology, relativity, rocket science and other traditionally dense topics — and he’s come up with four principles that can help you effectively communicate complex concepts. By zooming out and focusing on context at the beginning of an explanation, you can build a world around your product that enables it to make more sense. Prioritizing the details of this year’s coolest product features isn’t an explanation. What kind of natural scene could be conveyed with those colors in those configurations? Most of us love to learn — but we can absorb only so much at a time. Retired 4-star Air Force general supports Biden, Facebook removes hundreds of fake accounts linked to pro-Trump youth group, Footage of Kansas City PD kneeling on back of black pregnant woman sparks outrage, Self-funding QAnon candidate donates $450k to own campaign after 6-figure PPP payout, Trump still struggling to breathe, aides say. This will help you gauge your listener's understanding, in addition to providing you with an opportunity to clarify your point, if necessary. Dazzle them with clarity; it’s another kind of brilliance. What’s more, he believes that more effective communication isn’t limited to the sciences. When you get feedback from your listener, be attentive and non-judgmental, advise Lawrence Robinson, Jeanne Segal and Robert Segal of HelpGuide.org in their article "Effective Communication.". […]. As an example, take Helen Frankenthaler’s Cool Summer (1962). love the concept of approaching the audience with an attitude that appreciates them as being smart already. […] Explaining things to your customers is tricky. If they want to know more, you can build upon that knowledge and create a more complete — and accurate — picture. Explain the Forest, Not Just the Trees Avoid bombarding people with too much knowledge at once. If you have some other pointers on how to clearly explain your thoughts, click below to send us a Blrt ([email protected]). Focus only on features and you’ll miss an opportunity to invite your audience to see the big picture. If you’re speaking to a large group, “you have to make your best guess and a show of hands can be useful, too,” says Walliman. This can help your friend start to appreciate it. You may feel tempted to explain every single thing you know about this particular work, telling her about the artist’s life and career, the materials and techniques used, the movement that the artist is part of, and so on. Don’t worry too much about whether you’re telling the audience something they’ve already heard before. “It’s better to explain, say, three things that someone will understand … rather than barrage them with a whole load of information that kind of undoes all of your good work to begin with,” Walliman says. Then, at some stage you realize you kind of lost the thread of what they’re saying … You realize you have absolutely no idea what they’re talking about.”. Want to write for us or learn more about our team? In fact, it can help all of us talk about the ideas, concepts, inventions and people that interest us. 10 Ways to Explain Things More Effectively Written by Global Knowledge. All you need to do is find a better way to explain your subject. That isn't to say I don't have thoughts, I just think much more effectively than I can explain and would like to learn how to better think and communicate with others. You were talking about something relatively complex and you could practically see the moment that your listener checked out. Jake Amorelli is the communications coordinator for TEDx. We’ve reached the magic number ten which concludes our list of how to communicate ideas effectively, but we’re by no means under the illusion that the list is complete. “If you’re taking the time to explain something to someone, there’s probably a reason you’re doing it — either you think it’s super-important or very, very interesting,” says Walliman. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. An important component of explaining something clearly is understanding the needs of your audience. 4. To help you walk this line, HBR offers a few battle-tested tips for explaining things to customers. Mention how, much like Jackson Pollock would drip paint, Frankenthaler would stain her canvases. You see a painting you love — and one that you studied in college — but you can see that your friend doesn’t quite know what to make of it. Remember: Learning isn’t limited to understanding a subject, it can also be about grasping what you already know and understanding it in a way that will allow you to share it with those around you. Settle for establishing a basic understanding in them. When we’re speaking about a subject we’re very knowledgeable about, we may tend to be carried away with the impulse to get everything “right.” Sometimes, though, an emphasis on the facts can occur at the expense of comprehension. Here are a few examples: Make Your Audience Feel Smart, Instead of Making Yourself Look Smart Welcome to Alltop Viral where we find and break down the most important news of the day. To help you walk this line, HBR offers a few battle-tested tips for explaining things to customers.