Conveying complex information in a clear, concise manner is a significant challenge for various communicators.
Audiences often experience confusion, stupidity, or anger when encountering highly technical, detailed, or nuanced concepts.
Scientists, technologists, and business professionals are examples of communicators facing this challenge.
Two common tendencies hinder effective communication and understanding of complex information.
The 'curse of knowledge' means communicators know too much about their topic, leading to assumptions about audience knowledge.
This curse results in communicators taking shortcuts in explanations or using jargon.
The term 'curse of knowledge' was encountered in Dan and Chip Heath’s book Made to Stick.
Communicators tend to relay concepts in the manner they are most comfortable receiving information themselves.
If a communicator relies on data and detail to learn, they naturally tend to provide data and detail when explaining.
These two communication habits make it more difficult for audiences to understand and learn.
An audience-centric approach serves as the antidote to the two hindering communication tendencies.
Communicators should start by asking 'What does my audience need to hear?' instead of 'What do I want to say?'
The common starting question is 'What do I want to say?' when drafting communication.
The recommended question is 'What does my audience need to hear?' to guide communication.
To determine audience needs, communicators must consider what their audience already knows and how they learn.
This reflection helps include omitted information and consider alternative explanation methods like stories or images.
From the audience’s perspective, communicators need to consider ways to make complex material more accessible.
Six specific tools can be used to help audiences understand complex concepts.
The six tools are Diagram, deconstruct, compare, picture, backward map, and chunk.
The article uses archery to illustrate the steps involved with these communication tools.
Conveying complex information in a clear, concise manner is a significant challenge for various communicators.
Audiences often experience confusion, stupidity, or anger when encountering highly technical, detailed, or nuanced concepts.
Scientists, technologists, and business professionals are examples of communicators facing this challenge.
Two common tendencies hinder effective communication and understanding of complex information.
The 'curse of knowledge' means communicators know too much about their topic, leading to assumptions about audience knowledge.
This curse results in communicators taking shortcuts in explanations or using jargon.
The term 'curse of knowledge' was encountered in Dan and Chip Heath’s book Made to Stick.
Communicators tend to relay concepts in the manner they are most comfortable receiving information themselves.
If a communicator relies on data and detail to learn, they naturally tend to provide data and detail when explaining.
These two communication habits make it more difficult for audiences to understand and learn.
An audience-centric approach serves as the antidote to the two hindering communication tendencies.
Communicators should start by asking 'What does my audience need to hear?' instead of 'What do I want to say?'
The common starting question is 'What do I want to say?' when drafting communication.
The recommended question is 'What does my audience need to hear?' to guide communication.
To determine audience needs, communicators must consider what their audience already knows and how they learn.
This reflection helps include omitted information and consider alternative explanation methods like stories or images.
From the audience’s perspective, communicators need to consider ways to make complex material more accessible.
Six specific tools can be used to help audiences understand complex concepts.
The six tools are Diagram, deconstruct, compare, picture, backward map, and chunk.
The article uses archery to illustrate the steps involved with these communication tools.