by Gilda Bonanno LLC
During a recent program for entrepreneurs, someone said, “I was pitching myself to a potential client and I mentioned the therapeutic approach I use. They stopped me and said, ‘I don’t understand.’ I felt awful. I don’t even know how to get better at explaining it.”
This isn’t just an entrepreneur’s problem. Anyone who has to explain their work, ideas or expertise to people outside their field faces this challenge. Whether you’re a therapist, a scientist, a consultant, a teacher or an executive in a large organization, clarity matters.
When we work in specialized or technical fields, it’s easy to forget how much knowledge we carry.
Medical, therapeutic, scientific or technical language may feel natural to us, but for many people it creates distance rather than clarity. The solution is not to talk more. It’s to talk simpler.
Translate, Don’t Lecture
People don’t understand jargon and they may not connect with technical explanations. This is especially true when you’re speaking to an audience that doesn’t share your background.
I work with a client in medical research whose company is seeking FDA approval for a treatment related to neurological injuries. The science is complex and precise, which matters when she’s speaking to scientists. But when she’s speaking to potential investors who are not scientists, that level of detail gets in the way.
The key is translation. Show that you understand the complexity, then explain it in plain English. Use analogies, metaphors or everyday experiences to help people grasp the idea quickly.
Think in terms of familiar images, for example, “mixing peanut butter and jelly” or “a car hydroplaning on water.” Anything that turns an abstract process into something tangible. You’re not dumbing it down. You’re making it accessible.
Test and Adjust
Try out your explanations. Pay attention to where people lean in and where they look confused. Refine your language based on their reactions. And remember, not everyone will understand immediately.
The Bottom Line
Clarity is not simplification for its own sake. It is discipline.
The more complex your work, the more intentional you must be about how you translate it. Clear language signals clear thinking. It builds credibility, reduces resistance and allows others to engage with your ideas rather than struggle to decode them.
When you translate expertise into language others can grasp quickly, you strengthen trust and influence. And in high-stakes conversations, that clarity often determines whether your message moves forward or stalls.
© Gilda Bonanno LLC - Gilda Bonanno serves as a trusted advisor to executives and entrepreneurs to transform their communication, presentation and leadership skills. She has worked with companies on 4 continents, from Chicago to Shanghai and Rio to Rome. The instructional videos on her YouTube channel have received over 1.5 million views and her e-newsletter has reached subscribers in over 45 countries since 2008. For other articles or to receive Gilda's e-newsletter, visit www.gildabonanno.com