Do you have a standard for making complicated ish sound simple?
Even with all of the degrees, credentials, experience, and training, the world of tech can be complicated! Constant innovation means that what was once the latest and greatest is now child’s play.
No matter how bland or complex you think your subject matter is, I promise there is a way to sound more authentic and connect with community.
Let people know there is a real human behind their computer and not some robot.
Here’s how:
relax on the jargon.
Um, we get it. You’re in a specialized industry. Now, I need you to consider your audience. Are they in your specialized industry, too? Are you sure? Even if you’re in B2B, is your audience seasoned professionals? Or could there maybe, possibly, might be, a newbie in the crowd? Don’t forget about the newbies. Relax on the super-niche, know-it-all industry jargon.
pretend like you’re talking to your mom.
Ah, yes! Who doesn’t love a good phone call from Mom?! (Don’t answer that). But, let’s be real - momma sent you off to school. She didn’t go with you. She has no earthly idea what you’re talking about. And if you want her to be able to brag to her friends about how successful her kids are, then you need to feed her the talking points about what you do! Think about your mom next time you’re creating content. Because right now, Ms. Kramer down the street with the horrible potato salad does not believe her when she says her kid is an astrophysicist.
offer learning tools.
Want to know what makes you a leader? It’s all in how you serve! How are you giving back to the people in your industry and even to those who might be interested in what you do? Create a learning tool, or kit, or something! Okay fine, you’re too busy to create one. Find something that already exists and reference it! It’s okay to make things a little easier for others. They tend to thank you big in the end for the help.
find the humanity.
Sorry. You just won’t be able to convince me that there is a job too “techie” to connect with humanity. The sole purpose of technology is to enrich (read: make easier) human life! So if you’re doing that, talk about it. Reference some of those real world experiences that have come from the innovations born in that smart noggin of yours.
Simplifying complexity doesn’t have to be…complex.