How to Explain Technical Concepts to a Non-Technical Audience

Like it or not, techies are getting pushed out from the backroom to the front lines. Increasingly, you find yourself standing in front of non-technical audiences – customers, C-suite members, finance, cross-functional team members, and other stakeholders – expected to explain tech concepts in simple terms.

Need some help? Here are six proven strategies you can use to communicate tech concepts to a non-technical audience effectively.

• Establish relevance upfront

  Your audience will be much more receptive to your information if they understand how it will impact them. Sure, you want to explain the process roadmap, but it may be a good idea to begin by explaining the point of arrival.

  Preparation is the key here. Do your homework beforehand to understand what will be considered relevant information by the audience, and then craft your presentation to address the what’s-in-it-for-me question upfront and early on in the interaction.

• Avoid information overload

  While you may have a lot of information to share, cramming every detail down the audience’s throat will not help.

  Be selective and keep paring the content. Consider what is essential to the audience. Try and anticipate the questions they will ask. And then, remember to stay focused on the most important and relevant points during the discussion.

  Been asked to assess one cybersecurity tool against another in a limited time? Instead of contrasting the technology that powers the tools, focus on how the tools will translate into ROI, risk mitigation, and functionality.

• Tell a Story

  Everyone loves a good story. So, weave one around your message. Don’t just make a presentation; take the audience on a journey. When planning each slide, see how it will push the presentation’s overall narrative forward.

  Incorporate personal anecdotes, examples, and analogies to make your point. If you don’t have any personal stories that relate to the situation, research. Use relatable events to make your case.

• Junk the Jargon

  The abbreviated terms and domain-specific terminologies that are a second language for you are alien to your audience. You need to ditch the jargon.

  Peppering the conversation with lots of technical terms may lead to audience disinterest and disengagement. Instead, try to simplify and explain concepts as much as possible.

  If a lot of detail is required, and/or you are unsure about the audience’s technical expertise, distributing a jargon cheat sheet before getting into the presentation/interaction may be a good idea.

• Use visuals aids

  Why waste half the meeting trying to explain a point when a few pictures can illustrate the point much more quickly.

  Visual content is highly effective in communicating technical processes and concepts. As per studies, 65% of people are visual learners. Therefore, visual aids are valuable for helping non-technical audiences understand technical concepts.

  Do leverage diagrams, models, and other visual presentation techniques to
  drive home your point.

• Ask for feedback, invite questions

  Communication is a two-way street. Along with saying your piece, focus on the audience’s response. Do your listeners have any questions? Are they seem to be following your pace? Look out for implicit cues and seek explicit feedback as well.

  Take frequent breaks to invite questions and clarify points. Be respectful of the audience’s technical knowledge limitations.