The Art of Explanation: How to Communicate with Clarity and Confidence

Unless we explain the context, we can’t assume the people we’re speaking to will understand why this particular subject matters.

Are there moments when attention could waver?

ASK YOURSELF Is this the most succinct way I can say this?

The first was for the issues I thought I understood. I also wrote how best I thought I could explain them. The next list was for elements of the story I was really struggling to understand, let alone explain. The third was, for the moment, blank. Here I would put other aspects of the story that I didn’t understand as I discovered

ASK YOURSELF Are there elements of this subject I don’t understand?

The more people have their questions answered, the more interested they are going to be and the more value and credibility they see in you as a source of information.

Because if you’re efficient, you give people more in return for their time and they’re likely to be glad of that.

quality explanation is often the consequence of many small decisions working in sync to create a cumulative effect.

What do you hope to explain and/or communicate?

Next, we’re going to look at each subject strand in turn. Read through all the elements you have in it and ask yourself these questions: • What do I hope each strand of the explanation will achieve? • Within each strand, which of the elements are the most important? • Which should I start with? • Which elements do you think will follow on from anot