A few months ago, I attended a technical conference.
There were many speakers, most of whom were graduate students or professors.
Sitting in the audience, I was eager to hear what they had to say.
After a few presentations, I wasn’t so eager anymore.
With few exceptions, the presenters read from their slides, which isn’t the best way to engage an audience. To make it even worse, there was so much technical jargon on the slides. Before I could even grasp what one slide was about, the presenters would switch to another slide full of more technical jargon. Compound interest can be great. Compound technical jargon is never great.
I want to say this was an isolated incident, but I’ve attended many technical conferences that have played out the same way.
There has to be a better way.
Technical experts have a ton of technical expertise but aren’t always the best at putting it in such a way that non-technical audiences can understand. A significant issue is the incessant use of technical jargon that is common to them but foreign to others. Especially with the ever-increasing use of AI in the workplace, technical jargon is as popular as ever. Training professionals who work with technical staff or provide presentation skills training can easily see the need to confront this issue, as they witness the disconnect when a presenter with a technical jargon-laden presentation loses the audience. The disconnect often leads to confusion, miscommunication, and presentations falling on deaf ears. They also recognize the positive results of handling technical jargon, such as improved teamwork, better project outcomes, and increased innovation.
How to tackle technical jargon
In short, tackling technical jargon to garner greater audience comprehension is necessary for technical staff to improve their presentation skills. How can we make this happen?
1. Explain jargon with more commonly used words
I worked as a product development engineer in the Orthobiologics space, having to give monthly presentations to senior management. Most didn’t even know what Orthobiologics meant, so it would have been a waste of time to continuously use the word without explaining it. Orthobiologics are natural substances doctors use to help injuries heal more quickly, often involving cells, tissues, and proteins. An explanation of the term at the presentation’s start can go a long way to keeping people’s attention. Why listen to a presentation if you don’t understand the words?
2. Use visuals on presentation slides to explain the jargon
Images can help tremendously in explaining jargon. In Orthobiologics, for instance, osteoblasts and osteoclasts are often mentioned. They are types of bone cells. Osteoblasts build new bone, while osteoclasts break down old or damaged bone. During presentations to senior management, I’d often show pictures of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, depicting osteoblasts forming new bone and osteoclasts breaking down old bone. Even if they were unsure what osteoblast and osteoclast meant, audience members could at least see what they did.
3. Solicit feedback
Asking audience members about their understanding of potentially unfamiliar terms is also useful. During a presentation, if I used a technical jargon term and defined it using more commonly used words, I’d often ask the audience if my explanation of the term was a useful one. After presentations, I’d ask audience members what they took away from the presentation. If their understanding matched my intention, then I did my job. If not, go back to the drawing board!
4. Search for the technical jargon in the presentation
I’d also record my presentations and use a transcription tool to obtain the transcript. I’d list common technical jargon I often use and then search the transcript for those terms. In a 15-minute presentation, how many technical jargon terms did I use? I now have a number to beat for subsequent 15-minute presentations.
More and more workers are using AI-enabled tools. In addition, more and more companies are developing AI-enabled products. Technical experts working on such products will be relied upon to explain their work to many, such as decision-makers, non-technical team members, and other stakeholders. Addressing technical jargon in presentations is crucial for ensuring clear and effective communication with all these audiences. By using more commonly understood words, incorporating visuals to illustrate complex concepts, actively soliciting feedback to refine the message, and searching for technical jargon terms in presentations, training professionals can help technical experts bridge the gap between their expertise and the audience’s understanding. Implementing these strategies will enhance understanding and engagement, leading to better decision-making, stronger connections, and more effective collaboration within teams and organizations.
