Talk nerdy to me

Melissa Marshall, a communications teacher, shared the four keys for scientists and engineers to communicate effectively in her TED talk, "Talk nerdy to me."

Her concepts apply to all communications:

1. Answer the "so what?" question. Tell us why your idea is relevant to me, today.

2. Be aware of jargon. It is a barrier to understanding.

3. Make your ideas accessible. Einstein said "make it as simple as possible, but no simpler." Use stories, examples, & analogies. The best way I saw to describe drilling for oil in rock formations, was by giving everyone a slush drink and encouraging them to use a straw to remove only the liquid, leaving the ice pieces behind.

4. Use photos, not bullet points to explain concepts.

By sharing your passion and using the concepts above you will increase understanding of your ideas. Which is really the reason we communicate in the first place!

You can listen to Melissa's TED talk at //www.ted.com/talks/melissa_marshall_talk_nerdy_to_me

Want to improve your communication skills?

I love to work with technical leaders. Contact me Valerie.MacLeod@HainesCentre.com