How can you explain technical concepts to non-technical interviewers?

When knowing your audience it helps to always consider the context at hand. Context is not only relative to who you are talking to but also how formal the conversation is. Tailoring your communication style and considering how much detail is necessary is important in order to better communicate your ideas. Also, just because an interviewer comes from a non-technical background does not mean they don't have the capacity to understand processes from complex technical ideas. It helps to have patience and empathy when explaining these technical concepts as that helps build rapport and trust with the audience you are trying to talk to.

One of my best processes is employing a simplified, jargon-free approach. I use relatable analogies and visual aids when applicable. I focus on the "why" and "how it benefits" aspects. I encourage questions and offer real-world examples to make the concept relatable. I gauge their understanding and adjust my explanations accordingly, ensuring they grasp the fundamental ideas without diving into intricate technical details. Clear, concise language and a patient, receptive demeanor are essential to effective communication in these scenarios.

When simplifying language it is also important to consider how to structure your technical concepts in a way that is simple to understand yet still gets the main message and purpose across. Make the process of explanation easy for your audience to follow along and understand by breaking it down into smaller steps. As well when considering the process of technical concepts one should also address the meaning. Concepts like API, DOM, or CRUD, mean nothing when the audience has no point of reference to what they are trying to accomplish. When considering how to break them down in communication, you should ask yourself what purpose this concept has to create a higher level of understanding for your audience to work with.

I have been developing technical presentations for my team members whose experience isn't as in depth as mine is, that is, I'm probably the most experienced person on the team. Instead of lapsing into jargon and acronyms, I start with comparing the topic at hand to something simple that they have experience with. For example, when doing a presentation on nuclear power/propulsion, I start with saying that the reactor is essentially a big, complicated hot water heater. From there I can build on things like coolant loops, steam generators and the rest of the cycle. But, they have the idea of what the reactor does firmly affixed in their minds now.

When working with analogies and metaphors, work to consider the audience's perspective. Analogies work best when drawing from everyday life experiences as they help form a clearer understanding that everyone can understand. To make sure your analogies work with a diverse set of audiences try to avoid anything that pertains to closely with cultural or generational differences. Good communication involves listening and understanding. If the audience is having trouble processing the message get them to ask questions to keep them on track. Make sure your analogies and metaphors are clear enough to understand and relatable enough to address the main points behind that concept.

When working with visual elements it helps to keep it simple yet meaningful. Make sure all the visualization contains the relevant parts needed. Do not make it overcrowded and distract from what you are trying to explain with the visual aid. Consider clear annotations that will catch the audience's attention. For example, a website with different APIs will naturally have multiple parts of data being sent and received. Consider how these data pieces form and create concepts in your website and break the illustration down into steps so the audience knows where a data point comes from, and where the data point is getting used. Guide the audience through the visualization so everyone remains focused on the purpose of the visualization.

Use pictures and diagrams to tell the story. Pictures of the topic at hand, whether its a screenshot of code or pictures of the submarine (in my case) helps people understand better what you're speaking about.

Also make time for a Q&A at the end of your presentation. Always. Make sure your audience knows they can ask about things that may not be exactly what the presentation covered but adjacent to it. I've seen some great discussions come out of that idea.

Try not to make assumptions about how much the other side knows about the topic. Use 'easier' synonyms or explain the term if you can't avoid using it in its original form. Be careful not to provide excessive information as well; your main goal is to explain the point, not to make it sound complex.