Language matters

Do you inspire or intimidate with your expertise?

I'm helping a group of technical experts to communicate with their company's UAV policy. I didn't have time to google the acronym before the first meeting.

So I spent the first five minutes considering a variety of definitions as I listened to the brief. I then interrupted the passionate speaker to confirm that UAV meant unmanned aerial vehicles - the technical name for drones. Five minutes of being intimidated instead of informed. Definitely not impressed and far from inspired.

Every technical expert I've met wants to inspire others to be interested in their area of expertise. But without clear communication, their knowledge can end up intimating the very people they’re seeking to inspire.

As listeners, we don't like to admit we don't know something. That could make us look stupid. So with every sentence, we flip through a rolodex of options in our minds to interpret what we're hearing. Sometimes we get it right, sometimes we don't and we leave the interaction with a false sense of understanding.

So how can an expert get it right?

1. Beware of technical jargon and acronyms. Just because something is second nature to you, doesn’t mean it is to your audience.

2. Meet your audience at THEIR level, not yours. If you don't know how much they know about your topic, ask them before you start talking.

3. Provide context. Explain why a concept is important and how it relates to real-world challenges.

4. Look for cues of understanding. Glazed eyes and confused faces are your trigger to stop and take questions.

Enough droning from me for today. Now back to that UAV policy...