Strategies To Explain Technical Concepts To Your Non-Tech Co-workers | Fusion - WeRIndia

Strategies To Explain Technical Concepts To Your Non-Tech Co-workers

Explain Technical Concepts To Your Non-Tech Co-workers

Explaining the benefits of a tech concept instead of its functionality, is one of the effective method engineers and scientists use to convey complex concepts to others.

If you’re a developer or in another type of technical role, we know you have exciting things to share, and we want you to be able to discuss those gems without lulling your non-tech co-workers to rest. So, here are some of the most effective strategies:

1. Draw Out Your Inner Shakespeare

If someone doesn’t know, well, anything about the tech you’re trying to explain, even starting with the basics probably won’t be effective. Instead, try comparing the concept to something that someone does know the ins and outs of.


You just have to pick something your co-workers already understand. Something they’re comfortable with and can get their head around, then show them how your tech topic is equivalent to all the different parts of it.

Simply ensure you think through your metaphor and prepare it ahead of time, lead application engineer at true. One thing I’ve learned is it’s bad to come up with a metaphor in the meeting that you’re currently having, because usually they’re bad.

“On the fly metaphors, or switching metaphors while you’re explaining something, can be confusing.”

2. Give Your Colleague A chance to lead the pack the Lead

Set up a meeting with your co-worker.

Give others a chance to manage the discourse by making inquiries at their level of comprehension. “You’ll have the capacity to evaluate what they definitely know, what they need to know, and what they have to know. At that point you can react likewise, overcoming any issues from your skill to their requirement for an answer or expanded comprehension.”

You can also ask people what their learning style is, and adjust your approach from that point.

3. Select Inquisitive, Not Stooping

Keep this comment from humorist Will Rogers in mind: “Everybody’s ignorant—just on different subjects.”

You should never use your insight in a way that influences others to feel awkward or inept. Too much explanation can come across as “talking down” to your audience, Dianna says.

“It’s generally better to precede the explanation in question, with a comment like this: ‘I can go into a deeper explanation about X if you’d like me to?’ Then let the listener say yes or no.”

Never state your offer this way: Does anybody need me to explain X? Rarely will anyone ask for an explanation, fearing to be the only unknowledgeable person in the group.

“People have a tendency to get threatened on the off chance that you utilize a ton of tech language. What’s more, it’s not in any case just tech language. In the event that you really expound, individuals will lose track and will be less included.

You need individuals to don’t hesitate to make inquiries, to pitch, and feel helpful.”

4. Include a Measurement of Sympathy

Creating context around the technology before you start talking specifics. “Start with questions: ‘Have you ever experienced [problem the technology solves]? That’s what this technology or engineering process solves or does.'”

More importantly, pay attention to how your co-worker is reacting.

Silence and glazed eyes is a bad sign that you’ve derailed the conversation and you’ve lost people’s attention. “Don’t assume that people have any kind of technical experience, so be patient.”

Helping people understand harder concept will help build relationships too. When you’re able to explain things to people, they’ll likely be more comfortable approaching you again.

To make your co-worker feel at ease in asking for a nontechnical explanation, try these phrases:

  • “One thing that most people always ask me is …”
  • “Something that’s commonly confounding to customers is that … “
  • “I’m sure you’re probably going to have questions about X because that’s so complex.”
  • “One thing that was dependably very confounding to me when I got into this field was the reason …”
  • “This X is extremely complex, so I’m expecting you’ll have lots of questions. Fire away…”

At the end of the day, your co-workers will appreciate the extra effort you’ve put in to explain complex topics and, ultimately, you’ll save time explaining features or asks down the road. Plus, what’s the point of building a product that no one understands?

With these tips, your audience will bask in your brilliance—and you’ll all push ahead more adequately.

Photo by Charles Deluvio on Unsplash (free for commercial use)


Image Reference: https://unsplash.com/photos/Lks7vei-eAg

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