Technical language can be a powerful tool to showcase your expertise, credibility, and value in your presentations. However, it can also be a double-edged sword if you use it too much, too little, or in the wrong way. In this article, you will learn how to use technical language effectively to stand out from your competitors and impress your audience.
The first rule of using technical language is to know your audience. Who are they? What is their level of knowledge and interest in your topic? What are their needs and expectations? You need to adapt your language to suit your audience, not the other way around. For example, if you are presenting to a group of experts, you can use more technical terms and jargon, but also explain how your solution or idea is different or better than others. If you are presenting to a group of non-experts, you need to use simpler and clearer language, but also demonstrate how your solution or idea is relevant and beneficial to them.
In my experience a typical audience is often still a real mixture of knowledge and skills, so it's important that the message is accessible to everyone there. Analogy and putting things into a practical content make a huge difference.
The second rule of using technical language is to balance clarity and precision. You want to use technical language to convey your message accurately and confidently, but not to confuse or bore your audience. You need to find the right balance between being too vague and being too detailed. For example, if you are presenting a technical solution, you can use a diagram or a flowchart to illustrate the main steps or components, but avoid going into too much detail or using too many acronyms. If you are presenting a technical concept, you can use a metaphor or a story to make it more relatable and memorable, but avoid being too abstract or irrelevant.
The third rule of using technical language is to emphasize your value proposition. You want to use technical language to show how your solution or idea solves a problem, meets a need, or creates an opportunity for your audience. You need to highlight the benefits and outcomes of your solution or idea, not just the features and functions. For example, if you are presenting a technical product, you can use testimonials or case studies to show how your product helped your customers achieve their goals, but avoid listing all the technical specifications or features. If you are presenting a technical research, you can use statistics or graphs to show how your research contributed to the advancement of knowledge, but avoid showing all the data or methods.
The fourth rule of using technical language is to engage your audience. You want to use technical language to spark curiosity, interest, and feedback from your audience. You need to invite them to ask questions, share opinions, or give suggestions. For example, if you are presenting a technical proposal, you can use questions or challenges to stimulate discussion and feedback, but avoid making assumptions or judgments. If you are presenting a technical innovation, you can use demonstrations or experiments to show how your innovation works and what it can do, but avoid being too technical or complex.
Wherever possible, I find it really helps if you can ask a few questions (perhaps using a survey or questionnaire) beforehand or at the very start to gauge their level and specific circumstances. Referring to that and putting the technical elements in a real life context that is meaningful to the audience brings the technical to life.
The fifth rule of using technical language is to review and refine your language. You want to use technical language to communicate your message clearly, concisely, and convincingly. You need to check and edit your language for accuracy, consistency, and readability. For example, if you are preparing a technical presentation, you can use a checklist or a peer review to ensure that your language is appropriate, accurate, and understandable, but avoid using unnecessary, redundant, or confusing words or phrases.
The sixth rule of using technical language is to practice and improve your language. You want to use technical language to deliver your presentation confidently, fluently, and professionally. You need to practice and improve your language skills for pronunciation, intonation, and expression. For example, if you are rehearsing a technical presentation, you can use a recorder or a feedback form to evaluate and improve your language performance, but avoid reading from a script or memorizing your presentation.