“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough” – Albert Einstein.
Wise words from Mr. Einstein, considered to be one of the greatest minds of the 20th century. He highlights a fundamental truth with regards to sharing information- if we’re complicating things, maybe we’re the ones that have more to learn.
Unfortunately, when it comes to public speaking, complicated explanations are far too common. Even people that are experts in their fields and quite knowledgeable on a subject, can get into the trap of trying to impress the audience with big words.
The Art is in Simplicity
I like to use Einstein’s quote as a reminder about how to effectively share information in speeches. I recently heard a speaker that used an example of the Milky Way Galaxy to illustrate efficiency. He used complex terms and obnoxious numbers that are beyond most people’s comprehension. The speaker didn’t try to put the astronomical numbers he used into any perspective, and he moved on from his point as if his example was obvious to anyone with a functioning brain.
Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m not an astronomer, and incidentally, neither was that speaker. The example seemed to fall flat, and whether he noticed or not, he lost at least a third of his audience.
So why did he use it? My impression was that he wanted to sound smart. In doing so, he didn’t appear to understand how important it is to explain things simply.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s good technique to use examples to help people process new ideas. But it’s bad form to lose the point you’re trying to make by being complex.
For example, we’ve all heard the analogy that explains when sharing information, less is often better. It’s like giving a thirsty person a refreshing glass of water versus blasting them with a firehose.
Now if a speaker tried to make the same point (less is more) by calculating the total amount of water in gallons in all of the worlds lakes, oceans, and ice caps, and trying to explain how long it would take a person to drink all of it if they were dropped into the middle of the Atlantic with a 3 oz cup, well, the point is being lost in complication.
Instead, when we share new information, it should be like a glass of water- refreshing and simple.
Losing the Audience with Jargon
As that same speaker continued his speech, he spoke in absolutes and industry jargon. He implied by his tone and conviction that his opinion was superior without offering any compelling evidence. Now, I like listening to people that are smarter than me. I have a lot to learn. But at times, I had no idea what he was talking about because he didn’t explain the terms he was using.
In all, the speaker seemed aloof and self-important. It was clear that he lacked a basic understanding of his audience and their education level on the subject he was presenting. Now, I’m not saying he was a bad person, because he wasn’t. I spoke to him afterward and he was nice enough.
But what did the audience get from his presentation? I can’t tell you what his main points were, and his motive didn’t appear to be to share information that could have been valuable, but rather, to impress his listeners.
A Reminder to be an Artist
Certainly, self-consciousness can get the better of any of us. When speaking to a group, none of us want to sound like an idiot. But this speech was a reminder of how important it is to format information clearly and simply ahead of time.
Of course, we don’t want to speak down to the audience, or make it so simple that it lacks anything of real interest. But it is possible to share even complex points in a succinct and yet interesting way by using a little art and style.
When preparing an outline, it’s important to briefly define any industry terms, acronyms, or jargon. When using illustrations, analogies, or metaphors, it’s important to double-check them to be sure that you’re not obsessing over details that don’t contribute to the point you’re trying to make.
This can be one of the most time-consuming parts of crafting a speech, but it is the part that turns cold frozen information into hot delicious meals.
It’s Not About You, It’s About the Art
The need to impress others is tied to our desire to feel valued and accepted. When we stand on stage in front of dozens or even hundreds of people, we want them to see us as competent and capable.
Although that is a normal and understandable feeling, if you think that’s the goal of public speaking, you don’t understand public speaking well enough.
Are you familiar with the painting called the Mona Lisa? What about the statue of David? If you do, I wouldn’t be surprised. These are two of the most famous works of art in human history.
But could you tell the difference between Michelangelo and Leonardo de Vinci if they were standing next to each other? For most of us, that would be a tough assignment. The point is that as incredible as those artists were, they are identified by their works, not their faces. In other words, their works of art became bigger than their personal appearances.
In the same way, it’s important to remember that we are always second to the message in our speech. This is true of the way the audience looks at the speaker as well.
When we remember that we are servants of the message, whatever that message is, we will focus on impressing that message on the minds of our listeners in the most effective way possible. We won’t be obsessed with showing everyone how smart we are.
If You Can Speak Simply, You Understand Public Speaking
One of the greatest complements a speaker can receive is when an audience member expresses their appreciation for a new thought or concept they acquired from the speaker’s presentation. It confirms to the speaker that he not only managed to keep someone’s attention, but that he effectively delivered the information he had prepared for them.
When someone can really learn and use something new that benefits their life, it’s a rewarding outcome for a speaker that likely spent dozens of hours perfecting his presentation.
When a speaker is merely greeted afterwards with platitudes and “thanks for coming,” it’s obvious that, for whatever reason, his message didn’t land successfully. Even worse, if all the speaker did was try to demonstrate that he knew more than his audience, he may not get any friendly thank you’s at all!
So when writing your next speech, keep in mind the need to keep it simple, get lost in your message instead of your image, and make it artful. Don’t try to impress us or put on a show, but demonstrate that you understand the point of a good public presentation.
