How to Explain Things Better: 12 Communication Techniques .Mastering the art of clear and engaging explanations is a valuable skill in any situation. How to Explain Things Better: 12 Communication Techniques provides essential strategies to help you convey ideas effectively—whether you’re delivering a presentation, leading a meeting, discussing your passions, or simply improving your communication skills. Start by presenting the most relevant and compelling information, then refine your wording to ensure clarity. With How to Explain Things Better: 12 Communication Techniques, you’ll learn how to structure your message, adapt to your audience, and make complex ideas more accessible. Keep reading to discover all the best techniques from How to Explain Things Better: 12 Communication Techniques, so you can confidently explain anything to anyone.
1 Start with the most relevant information.
Give your listener the key information or answer they need right away. While context is useful, capturing their interest from the start keeps them engaged. Begin with the most crucial or attention-grabbing detail before diving into the finer points.
For example, if you’re presenting a new financial plan at work, start by stating that profits are declining before explaining the underlying reasons. Similarly, if a friend asks why their garden plants are struggling, you could first point out that overwatering is the issue, then discuss proper soil drainage techniques.
2 Simplify complex ideas in 2-3 points.
Focus on a few key points and keep your language simple. While it might be tempting to share everything you know about a topic, too much information at once can overwhelm your audience—especially if they’re unfamiliar with the subject. Instead, start with 2-3 main ideas that provide a clear overview.
For example, if you’re presenting a book to a group, highlight two major themes and use specific examples to illustrate them. Similarly, if you’re teaching your daughter to drive a manual car, first explain how to switch gears before diving into what happens mechanically during a gear shift.
If your audience is curious or has more questions, you can gradually add details and build on your explanation. Before speaking, try rehearsing in your head or jotting down your thoughts to ensure your explanation is clear and easy to follow.
3 Provide Clear Explanations over Accurate Ones
Keep it simple and focus on the big picture rather than getting lost in the details. When discussing something you’re passionate about, it’s easy to fixate on accuracy, but a straightforward explanation that captures the essence of the topic is often more effective than an overly technical one.
For example, if your grandmother asks how Wi-Fi works, it’s clearer to say it connects devices to the internet rather than explaining the complexities of radio waves and networking protocols. Similarly, if you’re presenting the history of black hole discoveries to a general audience, describing black holes as vacuums that pull in light can serve as an easy-to-grasp starting point before diving into their mass or electric charge.
And if you don’t know the answer to a question, don’t worry! It’s perfectly fine to say, “I don’t know” or “Let me find out and get back to you.” You can always research more and follow up later.
4 Use similes, metaphors, and analogies.
Relate your topic to something familiar to make it easier to understand and remember. When your audience can visualize what you’re explaining, they’ll grasp the concept more quickly and retain it long after your presentation. Using similes, metaphors, or analogies can bridge the gap between new ideas and familiar experiences.
- Simile: Compare two things using “like” or “as.” “Blood vessels are like highways, and blood cells are like cars traveling through them.”
- Analogy: Highlight a shared trait between two unrelated things. “Your phone’s storage is like a cupboard—it fills up when you store too much in it.”
- Metaphor: Directly compare one thing to another. “Your eye is a camera, and the cornea acts as the lens.”
By making connections to everyday concepts, you help your audience engage with and understand complex ideas more easily.
5 Create a mnemonic.
Use images, acronyms, or rhymes to make information easier to remember. Mnemonics are powerful memory aids that help audiences retain complex ideas while keeping them engaged. One of the most common mnemonic techniques is using acronyms, but there are plenty of other ways to reinforce learning:
- Name mnemonics: Use initials to recall information, like ROY G. BIV for the colors of the rainbow (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet).
- Rhyme mnemonics: Create catchy phrases, such as “I before E except after C,” to make rules stick.
- Chunking: Break long pieces of information into smaller, manageable parts—like remembering 847382985 as 847, 382, 985 instead of one long number.
- Storytelling and image mnemonics: Associate concepts with vivid mental pictures. For example, to remember Rosa Parks, imagine a woman sitting on a park bench surrounded by roses, waiting for a bus.
By incorporating these techniques, you can make even the most complex information more memorable and easier to grasp.
6 Break up your explanation into lists or steps.
Break your topic into clear, step-by-step instructions or detailed examples. Simplifying complex ideas into smaller, digestible parts makes it easier for your audience to follow and remember. Here are some effective ways to do this:
- Step-by-step instructions: Outline a clear sequence of actions. For example, when explaining how to start a business, say, “First, conduct market research. Second, write a business plan. Third, secure funding.”
- Role-playing: Help your audience practice real-life scenarios. If you’re teaching a friend how to respond to gaslighting, offer a few key strategies, then act as the gaslighter so they can practice responding effectively.
- Examples: Use multiple illustrations to reinforce your point. If you’re explaining how to stay active, list exercises like running, swimming, biking, and weightlifting to provide practical options.
By structuring your explanation in a logical, easy-to-follow way, you ensure your audience can grasp and apply the information with confidence.
7 Rephrase and repeat your explanation.
Reword your explanation in different ways to enhance understanding. Repetition helps reinforce learning, but instead of simply repeating yourself, try presenting the information in varied formats. This allows your audience to grasp the concept from multiple angles.
- Demonstrate, describe, and practice: If you’re teaching someone how to tie a shoe, start by showing them, then give verbal instructions, and finally have them try it on their own.
- Combine verbal and hands-on learning: In an office meeting, explain a new editing process verbally, then divide the team into groups to act out the steps for a more interactive experience.
By adjusting your explanation each time, you make it easier for your audience to absorb and apply the information effectively.
8 Use visual aids in your explanation.
Charts, graphs, and pictures are powerful tools for expanding on your topic. Visual aids help simplify complex ideas and systems, making them easier to understand and more credible. Here’s how you can incorporate visuals into your explanations:
- Graphs: Use graphs to display numbers and trends. For instance, a bar graph can compare the ages of survey respondents and whether they answered “yes” or “no.”
- Charts: Utilize charts to illustrate a series of events. A flowchart, for example, can clearly map out your company’s new recruitment process.
- Maps: Include maps to highlight specific locations or settings. When presenting on Roman history, you might show a map of the cities involved in your discussion.
When introducing visual aids to a larger audience, provide context for the visuals and maintain eye contact while explaining to ensure your message is clear and engaging.
9 Let your passion for the topic shine through.
Speak about your topic with energy and enthusiasm to captivate your audience. If you’re addressing a large group, imagine you’re talking to your best friend—let your voice rise and fall, and use hand gestures to emphasize your points. If possible, share why this topic matters to you personally. Your passion can make a significant difference in keeping your audience engaged.
Vary the pitch and pace of your voice to highlight key points, and avoid filler words like “um” or “like” by pausing briefly before moving on. Focus on the aspects of your topic that excite you the most. For instance, if you’re admiring a painting with a friend, you might share how fascinating it is that the artist drew the landscape from memory rather than from real life.
10 Check the audience’s understanding.
Check in with your audience to ensure you’re all on the same page. It’s important to meet them at their current level of understanding and build from there. If you’re unsure about what they know, ask questions like, “Does this make sense?” or “Are you following along so far?”
For larger groups, gauge the knowledge level by observing the audience or ask them to raise their hands if they’re familiar with the topic. Starting with the basics can also be helpful—most people don’t mind hearing something they already know, and it ensures everyone is on the same level.
If you’re beginning with foundational information, don’t worry about repeating what others might have heard before. It’s better to ensure understanding from the start.
11 Pay attention to the listener’s body language.
Pay attention to your listener’s non-verbal cues to gauge their understanding. Often, people may not express confusion verbally, so it’s important to look for subtle signs that they might not be following along. Here are some cues to watch for:
- Confused body language: A furrowed brow, avoiding eye contact, crossed arms, or leaning away from you.
- Engaged body language: Maintaining eye contact, leaning forward, and keeping arms uncrossed.
These cues can help you determine if you need to adjust your approach or rephrase your explanation to make sure your audience is on track.
12 Motivate your audience to take action.
End your explanation by presenting the challenges and offering clear next steps. Conclude by explaining why your topic is relevant to your audience. This could involve showing them how to solve an issue or highlighting what the topic means to them personally or to society at large.
For example, if your sister asks why her smartphone is slowing down, wrap up your explanation by telling her that clearing out the phone’s storage will improve its performance. Then, show her how to do it.
In a climate change presentation, conclude by providing your audience with ways they can take action, such as contacting their local politicians.
If you’re discussing a new law with a friend, explain the law and share your perspective on whether it should pass, then ask for their opinion to keep the conversation engaging.