Presenting Complex Information

Business communication can be complex no matter how simple your message is, but communicating complex ideas in a way that makes the information easy to understand can be even more challenging.

How to Deliver Complex Information with Clarity

Achieving the understanding of your audience requires not only your in-depth knowledge of the material but also a delivery that is charismatic and demonstrates patience.

What You Say and How You Say It Are Equally Important

What you say – the actual knowledge and information you are trying to impart – requires practice. You need to not only know what you’re talking about, but also spend time distilling the information into the most essential components. You must be prepared to adjust the delivery for the audience.

If you’re presenting new brain science technology and the investors you’re pitching to are neuroscientists, the level of complexity you include in your presentation can be quite high. If your audience is made up of business people who do not have a medical background, the material you present will change.

Be calm, have enthusiasm, and speak clearly. The more complicated the idea, the more quickly you’ll lose the listener when you use a monotone or unenthused voice. When people are relaxed, they are more receptive to learning, so it’s important not to become impatient or frustrated. And the more academic and complicated the information is, the more crucial it is to present the information in a dynamic and interesting fashion.

Measure Understanding with Eye Contact

Not only can eye contact help you connect with your audience and calm you as you make your presentation, it can also give you a quick pulse on the level of understanding you are able to secure. If people in the audience are alert, nodding, and engaged, it’s safe to assume they are connecting with what you are saying. But if you’re losing your audience to their phones, or if they look bored – or worse, pained – be prepared to take a step back and reiterate what you’ve been discussing in simpler terms.

Break the Information or Idea into Manageable Concepts

Break down the information or idea into smaller, more manageable pieces. If it’s a complicated idea or is highly technical, you may have to build the audience’s foundational knowledge before stepping fully into talking about your specific subject.

Skip the Jargon

Often, complex ideas or information come with their own secret jargon. Skip jargon completely unless everyone you are presenting to is also in the same field with the same vocabulary. Boil it down to its most basic “so what?” and build from there.

The first rule of all business communications should be clarity. No matter how complex the idea or the information, if you begin with a goal of clear and concise communication, you will be able to reach your audience.