The Art of Simplification: How to Say More by Talking Less

6 techniques to be more efficient and avoid losing your audience in details or jargon

"Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away," Antoine de Saint-Exupery once said.

This rings particularly true when it comes to presentations and speeches. The art of simplification is about taking everything out until your key message is crystal-clear.

Unfortunately, it is not that simple, as everything seems crucial to the argument when we want to present it.

Here are a few pointers on how to sort out the good, the bad, and the ugly.

The Curse of Knowledge

One of the biggest obstacles to simplification is the curse of knowledge. As experts, we often know so much about a topic that we struggle to see it from the reader's perspective. We assume they have the same level of knowledge that we do, which can lead to overly complex language, unexplained definitions, or confusing concepts.

Tip: 

Define your audience by using the 3 Whats techniques and ask what their level of expertise is in the domain. More on the technique in my post here:

Use the 3 Whats Technique to Resonate With Your Audience

The Importance of Shared Jargon: 

Generally, you want to avoid complexity in your speech. If using specific jargon is necessary to convey a particular concept. In these cases, it's important to define the term clearly and succinctly rather than assuming that the reader will understand what you mean.

As experts, we clearly see the nuances between two concepts, but the general audience will not. Remember, the Inuits have dozens of words for types of snow, where we might only refer to it as "snow."

Tip: 

Always ask yourself before introducing a jargon word: Is understanding this concept critical to the presentation? Can I replace this jargon term with 1 or 2 simpler words? 

The Trap of Abbreviations

Alongside jargon, we often use abbreviations or acronyms to refer to specific things. While it is an effective way to reduce redundancy in your talk, it also might devoid the acronym of its meaning for an unfamiliar audience.

Tip: 

In general, you should avoid using unfamiliar abbreviations (for instance, a broad audience might know what ROI is but not EBITDA)

The Agile's Minimum Viable Product Approach

The concept of the minimum viable product (MVP) in agile development is about creating something functional with the most valuable features while avoiding unnecessary bells and whistles. This same concept can be applied to presenting. Rather than trying to say everything about a topic, focus on what's essential and create a functional and effective piece of argument.

Tip: 

Write down what is your core message. It should be unique to your talk or section. Everything else should support that core message.

Less is More

In writing, less is often more. You can create more engaging and easier-to-understand presentations by simplifying your language and focusing on the essentials. 

Tips:

• Cut unnecessary words and phrases

• Use active voice

• Break up long sentences

• Use concrete examples to illustrate abstract concepts

• Use short lists to be more efficient

Appear Smart, Write Simply

Finally, some people are afraid of appearing not knowledgeable enough when using lower-grade language and simple sentence structures. But as Albert Einstein once said, "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough." 

Tip:

By focusing on simplicity and clarity, you'll not only appear smart, but you'll also be more accessible and engaging.

In a world where complexity is the norm, the art of simplification is a valuable skill for presenters to master. By focusing on what's essential, cutting out unnecessary language, and avoiding the curse of knowledge, you can create engaging, effective, and easy-to-understand presentations. 

Do you have other tips for presenters to simplify presentations? 

Have you ever been a victim of the Curse of Knowledge?

Leave a comment with your story or questions.