How do you simplify complex concepts in your stories?

I simplify complex ideas in my stories by using easy words, real-life examples, and interesting stories. I avoid using difficult words and explain things in a way that everyone can understand. Make the main idea clear without making it too complicated, so that more people can enjoy and learn from my stories. I use bold descriptions and simple explanations to help readers follow along and enjoy even the most challenging topics.

Analogies are brilliant storytelling tools for making complex concepts easier to understand. Consider the hare and tortoise story - at face value, it's about a tortoise that outsmarts a hare. On the deeper level, it's about how slow and steady usually wins the race. For professional communication, analogies are also a brilliant way to connect different specialists to each other. Pick a concept they're both likely to be familiar with - preferably from their personal lives - and then use it as an analogy to create a bridge between them.

Finding something relatable and building an analogy around it can help in making even complex concepts easier for your audience. But while drafting the analogy you need to ensure that the pointers you want to explain are clearly conveyed through your story. The analogy should help in clearly explaining the complex concept.

Generally, we know too much and are too passionate about it. Think of a group of rocket scientists speaking to a bunch of brain surgeons. Both groups are smart but steeped in the expertise of their field. They need a bridge. Analogies and metaphors are your secret sauce in making the complex simple. A bridge connecting the unfamiliar to the familiar.

Analogies and metaphors are powerful tools for simplification. They link the unfamiliar (complex concepts) with the familiar (everyday experiences), making it easier for the audience to grasp the essence of the concept. For example, comparing the human brain to a computer can help explain how the brain processes information.

Stories are the single-fastest and longest-proven method of getting our brains to retain information. Uri Hasson's done extensive research on brain synchronicity between different people hearing the same story and the findings are clear: When hearing a story, our brain activity syncs. This is particularly powerful for complex concepts, which often means a lot of new information for the brain to take in. When you build a story around the information and link it to known human experiences in your audience, their existing neural networks will help the brain retain the information easier and faster.

Stories are information carriers wrapped in emotion. They automatically grab people. Told well, they can take the concept or idea you want to explain and transport your audience with them. There are a couple of keys, though. 1. Make the story relatable to your audience. They're the hero of the story, not you. 2. Know what the point of the story is, and make sure you land it. 3. Practice telling the story; you want to remove the extra baggage and the "and thens" that you don't need.

The "Dino DNA" cartoon from JURRASIC PARK (1993) perfectly simplifies complex ideas through storytelling. It teaches the science of dinosaur cloning in an engaging story accessible to all ages. Instead of overwhelming the audience with technical details, the film uses Mr. DNA, an animated DNA strand, to explain the cloning process in simple, relatable terms. This approach demonstrates the power of narrative in making complex ideas accessible and memorable. Like Mr. DNA's lesson in dinosaur cloning, using stories and visuals can demystify difficult topics, making them clear and exciting. The "Dino DNA" cartoon depicts how storytelling ties complex concepts to the audience's existing knowledge, ensuring they are informed and entertained. ??

Incorporating examples and stories brings abstract concepts to life. Real-world applications or hypothetical scenarios can illuminate how a concept works in a tangible way. For instance, to explain statistical concepts, you might tell a story about how polling data predicts election outcomes, providing a concrete example that encapsulates the abstract idea.

Using personal stories and building before/after examples give a clear picture to reader what should be done and what they have done incorrectly.

A picture says more than a thousand words, right? If a concept is super complex and full of new information, there is no way your audience is going to be able to keep up with all the points you're giving them. Using a visual in combination with an analogy is a great way of simplifying the message for your audience and making them considerably more likely to remember what you've told them.

The value of adding visuals and diagrams to copy cannot be overstated. Tools like Canva and Figma are intuitive and easy to use even for beginners so there are options to choose from. In 7 out of 10 cases, a lengthy paragraph can be better communicated and cut down with the help of a chart/diagram/infographic.

In a creative content, I love using just an image/picture as slide and let the audience's imagination wander a little. Instead of putting all the points on slide, I would prefer to narrate or explain through that one image alone. However, for a more technical presentation, using diagrams, tables, before vs after, now vs then, with vs without (contrast) helps a lot in conveying the intended messages.

You process images 60,000x faster in the brain than text. That's research. For instance, you can use simple images together with technical features to help your audience process complex information faster. Imagine buying a camera. On the about page, they have icons, like a watch to signify how long the battery lasts, or an icon with the camera underwater to illustrate it is waterproof. These visuals will help you process the information quicker by not overloading your brain.

Be purposeful with visuals. What's ONE message you would like the audience to see from your visuals? As the saying goes- a picture speaks a thousand words.

"What's an easier way to say this?" - ask yourself that question. Over and over again. How would you explain this concept to a child? Or a complete novice in your field? Sure, your audience might be familiar with some of what you're covering, but if you simplify your language you're going to make the process so much more enjoyable and simple for them.

Make it even simpler. I can't go on enough about that. Simple. Straightforward. Clear. Easy. Unadorned. Effortless. Uncomplicated. No-frills. Jargon-free.

Know the difference between using simple language and colloquial. It's not about being friendly, it's about being respectful to the audience. Because you appreciate their time and presence, you would like to provide the best you could so that they walk away with the right understanding.

Make your elaboration layman and understandable. Consider relating to your audience such as: 7,000,000 people > Population of Hong Kong 300 sqft > Size of hotel deluxe room 4 GB > 1,000 songs

Simple language acts as a lighthouse guiding your audience through a fog of information. Concise language forms a cognitive anchor, helping your audience grasp and build on your ideas. Tailor your words to your audience's familiarity with the topic, striking a balance between informative and accessible. Use everyday language that avoids jargon and technical terms. Organize your content logically to make it easy on your audience. Utilize familiar storytelling frameworks like the three-act structure — setup, confrontation, resolution — to maintain momentum and purpose. The power of 3 (3 main points, 3 examples, 3 key takeaways) makes for digestible chunks of information. Simple language and structure transforms complexity into clarity.

Simplifying complex concepts often means embracing repetition and summary. Much like in software development, where we refactor code to make it cleaner and more understandable, using these techniques in storytelling helps clarify and reinforce key ideas. In explaining something as intricate as artificial intelligence, revisiting the core principles and summarizing them at intervals can significantly aid comprehension. This approach has served well in my presentations and workshops, making challenging topics accessible and memorable for the audience. It's about crafting a narrative that's as engaging as it is educational, ensuring the essence of the message resonates and sticks.

Don't just repeat because you have been told to. Repeat with a reason. You want your audience to do something. To take an action. To walk away with a changed mind. Whatever it is, you have to know what you want them to do. That's what you repeat and summarize about. Go back to the beginning, and reference the hook that got them into the story in the first place. Repeat the keys that will move them to action, then ask your ask.

Break your concept down into its absolute most important components. Link analogies to each of those components. And keep referring back to your analogies for repetition. If you repeat new information to your audience, it may stick. If you repeat new information wrapped up in storytelling format, it will.

When I coach startup management and students on public speaking I tell them to remember the phrase "'Tell, tell,tell" First-"tell" them what you are about to tell them". Second -"tell them what you promised to tell them". Third tell- "Tell them what you just told them"

Incluir un resumen siempre es una buena idea, sobre todo al final de cada idea y no esperar hasta el final de toda la historia. De esa forma vamos creando imágenes visuales más sencillas y consecutivas en la mente del lector o el oyente que van teniendo relación unas con otras.

Before your simplify a concept in your story, assess your audience's knowledge. Knowing whether your audience comes from a known / unknown background with prior or no knowledge about the concept will help you break down the concept into acceptable chunks of information. From the choice of language, to vocabulary, the selection of analogies & metaphors to designing the learning curve for your audience, you need to clearly identify WHO are you speaking to.

The real questions is how do you simplify complex things, period. One way is to answer two crucial questions: 1) what is happening 2) why should anyone (or someone specific) care? If you can clearly and simply answer these questions, then you can start to build a story with tension and relief using the previous tools mentioned like diagrams and data, analogies, metaphors, et al. Most often, the hardest thing we have to do is strip down an idea to its simplest, clearest format. Master that, and you make space to develop rich stories.

Know your audience. I used to think that audience would typically enjoy presentations that are more layman. And there's one occasion that I was proved wrong. To some degree, some of the members of the audience prefer concepts to be more technical. My takeaway- gauge the audience. Explain it more in the technical side, then ask for permission to make it simplified.

Be cautious of over simplification. Know who is the audience in your room. Assess their knowledge of the audience on your topic. At times, these terminologies are useful to save time and position yourself as authority in your topic.