How can you simplify complex messages for better communication?

I always make sure I get clarity on the following elements in terms of the audience - how do I want them to feel? - what emotions am I wanting to evoke? - how do I want them to act? - do I need to see changes in behaviour - define these? - what stories do I want people to tell? - does there need to be a change in the language used?

Use the rule of threes twice: I would try to convey my key idea in three lines or less and then have 3 bullet points where I'd further divide the key idea into three small paragraphs.

When breaking down complex ideas or concepts, I am mindful of the audience. Most often I use, examples and/or analogy of things they would be familiar with or could relate to. For example, when a child living in an orphanage/ care home turns 18, s/he/ they are left to their devices without any social safety net. I introduce the topic, by asking, what were you doing at 18? Taking a gap year? Getting ready to go to college? Or worrying about rent and jobs? Such an introduction helps to ease into topic while carrying the audience along with you.

Who are you writing for - who is the message for and who do you think your message is for. For me it is about ensuring that you are writing for everyone. People with disabilities are everywhere and in every occupation. If your audience are Allied Health professionals, I can assure you that there are people with disabilities are Allied Health Professionals. We are engineers We are doctors We are access auditors We are HR professionals We are Public Sector employees We are in senior roles We are just starting our careers We want to do training We want to advance our careers We want to be involved in political campaigns We want to be elected to government We want to be included in grass roots campaigns We want to be seen as the experts

The audience is always the key. Without an understanding of who you are talking to, you will never know how to say it. If I am trying to talk to an engineer about a concept, it is very different to talking with a layman about the same.

This is especially relevant for global organizations that have a significant amount of non-English speakers within their workforce. Always use the simplest word you can find. For example: - Facilitate - Help - Optimize - Improve - Utilize - Use - Synergy - Cooperation - Mitigate - Reduce - Diversification - Variety - Streamline - Simplify - Incentivize - Motivate - Leverage - Use - Synchronize - Coordinate - Benchmarking - Comparing - Strategize - Plan

From a science communication perspective, jargon is needed. But what’s important is that this jargon gets explained accessibility so that people can understand the jargon better.

Cut the clutter. Simple, clean copy always helps. The reader's focus should be on making sense of the argument, concept or idea, not on unravelling complex sentences/words. -- Use simple, short sentences -- Drop unnecessary adjectives/adverbs where possible -- Stay away from flowery jargon and dense language -- If there are any words that may be obvious to readers who are experts on the topic, but are not well understood outside the discipline, explain those. Example: Don't simply say - the median age/wage is xxx. Explain, this effectively means that half of the group earns less than xx (and so on and so forth). Don't assume knowledge of what may be a basic concept to you. -- Always read your final copy with fresh eyes before publishing!

Along with simple conversational style of language, using colloquial words and example has a great impact. It's also important to remember to give one message at a time. In fact simple, jargon free language with basic minimum information makes the communication messages impact fully and has a greater influence on the audience. Inshort, simple is powerful.

If the language is not relevant the message is easily and quickly discarded by the audience. Too often we assume knowledge of certain terms and acronyms and it's to our detriment and our audience. It actually creates a disconnect if there is not mutual understanding between all parties. Simplicity has power so be discerning how many messages you are communicating at one time.

Organize your message into 3 buckets and label them: 1) what is happening and why 2) why it matters 3) action items you want your audience to take. Use this repeatable framework in every message so your audience knows what to anticipate.

Your main message/idea should be right at the top. It's good to begin with anecdotes/excerpts/literary references in specific cases, but ideally, the main message should be upfront. The rest of the article should be structured to emphasise, reiterate, explain and reinforce the key message. If it's an analytical piece, begin with your main finding, and let each section delve into one aspect of that finding in greater detail. Don't leave the most obvious/broad messaging buried somewhere in the concluding sections.

Tell them what you're going to tell them. Tell them. Tell them what you told them. Our brains move a million miles a second. When you're reading, you're also thinking of the chores you have to take care of, something you saw on Tik Tok, and what to get your brother-in-law for his birthday. Whatever your key point is, make sure you don't bury it in the middle. Repetition will help it stick.

Make sure you allow ample time to convey your message and not rush through. Give time for people to reflect on key messages and give advice and share insights if relevant and appropriate at the time. I would also allow time and space for open Q and A.

Use copywriting structures if and when applicable to ensure that there is a logical flow and edit ruthlessly. Everything fluff should be removed. Add a TLDR or change the font to make certain key areas conspicuous.

All types of visuals are important. However, we must have a clear explanation of the visual as well. People can interpret visuals differently, so they need to be told what to focus on.

Unlocking the power of simplicity in communication often involves embracing the "KISS" principle—Keep It Simple, Stupid. Yet, a lesser-known aspect lies in the psychology of color. Research suggests that incorporating color strategically can significantly aid comprehension. For instance, associating key concepts with distinct colors can create mental anchors, facilitating easier recall and understanding. This subtle yet impactful approach transforms the art of simplifying messages into a multisensory experience, leaving a lasting imprint on the audience's memory.

Before creating/choosing your images, make sure you know also the culture you are preparing it for. Sometimes for us an image can represent one thing but for another group/culture it doesn’t or it’s something disrespectful and your message may backfire. In addition, you can also search for an image that has more resonance to your target audience (gestures, posture or even clothes that can be relatable).

Perspective> Process chart on slide 2 - bad idea. Visuals have to help you get it, not require more work to figure things out.

Visuals are great for some - I love them, as I process visually. However don't make them complex - and ensure that there are graphic descriptions for those in your audience who are blind or who have low vision. Bright flashing graphics can be troublesome for some. It can trigger episodes for some. Make sure you test your colours - yellow is a difficult colour for me to read. Don't assume that we are not going to be interested in what you are presenting.

It is always a good idea to have a second pair of eyes. Reading and re-reading a piece of content makes it hard to spot potential mistakes: ask a friend or, even better, get a proofreader to revise it to ensure you are not missing anything.

From my experience as a former Director of Communications and Brand at a data-for-AI startup, I found a particularly effective tactic to gauge the clarity of my messaging. I would call friends with no background in AI, read them the key messages, and then ask for their interpretation. This approach provided insights into how the message resonated with a non-technical audience. It was an excellent way to determine whether the message hit the mark or needed further refinement to achieve its goal.

The first draft almost always needs to be rewritten and edited. Sometimes it's better to have another person do the proof reading as we may overlook mistakes or omissions. Psychology says a writer reads from their mind. Hence, a writer may have thought or visualized something which may influence their reading of what is actually on paper.

I love having people review what I write - I know what I want to say, but once I have written it, I very rarely see the mistakes - a second pair of eyes really helps you to focus on what you are trying to get across.

One of the ways we can measure if our message is making sense to the audience is by creating a few versions with traceable differences. We can test these versions on different sub-cohorts, see what sticks, and then take those learnings into the final message. Of course, this adds a step and some time to the already strict deadlines that creators face. Secondly, the same can also be employed in delivering the message itself. We can distribute the audience randomly or by some characteristic and then share different versions. Here, if the segmentation is done scientifically, then we can create customised messaging suitable for the defined cohort. If randomly, then we can learn what works and that can help in future messaging.

Accessibility best practices will also help you make your communications better and more effective. For example: - caption video content - include visual descriptions and alt-text for images - avoid flashing content - use sufficient contrast - avoid text over images for readability reference the web content accessibility guidelines (WCAG) for more!

Be consistent with your overall communication strategy and tone of voice to confirm your belonging to a company or a brand. Also, always prioritize transparency and sincerity, as authenticity fosters a deeper connection with your audience.

Include a story to illustrate the WHY behind the what. You can share all sorts of logical information, but people need to understand WHY they should take action. A relevant, well-structured story will help people remember the information better AND be more motivated to act on the information.

I'd say that if your message is "complex," you don't have a message yet, and you need to clarify it. First, you should make a hook part of the message by highlighting the part of your message that resonates with customer insight. Sometimes it takes days or even weeks to find the right wording for both the insight and the hook part of the message. The key thing in this process is critical thinking. You should remember that basically, nobody is interested in your brand, and there are thousands of messages and interesting content around your audience. And one more thing, when you are creating a message, keep some space for your imagination and creativity. Don't be too tough on your findings and ideas. Secondly, create thrilling storytelling

I support what Margaux Joffe has said. I would add that you look at colour contrasts for those who have low vision. Just be cognisant of who your audience is - It is the entire community. Don't miss out on your potential customers/clients/employees because the information you are providing is only accessible to 80% of the population - there is conservative 20% of the community who have a disability - engage with us. I often say I have money to spend, but I am less likely to spend it at a business if it is not accessible to my all of my community