How can you choose technical language that resonates with your audience?

1 Know your audience

Before you prepare your presentation, you need to know who your audience is and what their level of familiarity and interest in your topic is. You can use different sources of information, such as surveys, feedback forms, social media, or previous interactions, to learn more about your audience's background, needs, expectations, and preferences. Based on this information, you can tailor your technical language and terminology to match your audience's knowledge and curiosity.

2 Use plain language

Plain language is the language that your audience can understand easily and quickly. It does not mean that you have to dumb down your content or avoid technical terms altogether, but that you have to explain them clearly and concisely. To use plain language, you should avoid unnecessary jargon, acronyms, abbreviations, or slang, and use common words, short sentences, and active voice instead. You should also define any technical terms or concepts that are essential for your presentation and provide examples or analogies to illustrate them.

3 Adapt to the context

The context of your presentation also influences how you choose your technical language and terminology. You have to consider the purpose, format, duration, and medium of your presentation, as well as the setting, mood, and expectations of your audience. For example, if you are giving a formal presentation to a large and diverse audience, you may want to use more formal and precise technical language and terminology, and provide more background and context. If you are giving an informal presentation to a small and familiar audience, you may want to use more casual and conversational technical language and terminology, and focus more on the main points and implications.

4 Balance clarity and credibility

One of the challenges of choosing technical language and terminology for your presentation is to balance clarity and credibility. You want to use language that is clear and understandable for your audience, but also language that is credible and accurate for your topic. You do not want to oversimplify or overcomplicate your message, or compromise your authority or authenticity. To balance clarity and credibility, you should use technical language and terminology that is appropriate for your audience, your topic, and your context, and that supports your arguments and evidence.

5 Get feedback

One of the best ways to improve your technical language and terminology for your presentation is to get feedback from others. You can ask someone who is familiar with your topic or someone who is not, or someone who is part of your target audience or someone who is not, to review your presentation and give you their honest opinion. You can also practice your presentation in front of a small group of peers or colleagues and ask them for constructive criticism. You should listen to their feedback and make adjustments to your technical language and terminology accordingly.

6 Keep learning

Finally, you should keep learning and updating your technical language and terminology for your presentation. You should keep up with the latest trends, developments, and innovations in your field and incorporate them into your presentation. You should also keep an eye on the feedback and reactions of your audience and learn from their questions, comments, and suggestions. You should also keep reading, listening, and watching other presentations and learn from their use of technical language and terminology.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?