I'm an engineer who's all about improving technical presentations. I post about my recent podcast episodes interviewing those with technical backgrounds about their public speaking journeys, my YouTube videos and blog posts offering tips on giving better technical presentations, and my podcast guest appearances. Want some public speaking tips? Please visit teachthegeek.com/tips.
Why engineering and business miscommunicate and how to fix it
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Hey, Reader. Main Insight: Influence Requires Translation, Not More DetailTechnical experts often assume that if the explanation is thorough, the message will land. But thoroughness is not the same as influence. Business stakeholders need clarity on what the issue means for timelines, cost, customers, and risk before they can act. This is the core idea behind my OSPE article, Bridging the Communication Gap in Engineering. The data shows that engineers do not struggle because they lack knowledge. They struggle because the people they communicate with do not share their mental models. The fix is simple: Lead with the outcome, explain the impact, then walk through the technical reasoning. If stakeholders cannot repeat your message in one sentence, they cannot support it. Read the article HERE. Podcast Episode: Michael Jones on When Engineering and Business MiscommunicateMichael Jones sits at the intersection of artificial intelligence, systems engineering, and stakeholder communication. He leads multidisciplinary teams developing LLM-powered tools, researches AI hallucinations, and regularly helps decision makers understand complex technical trade-offs. In our conversation, we discuss where engineering and business teams miscommunicate, how misconceptions about AI affect leadership decisions, and what technical professionals can do to have greater influence in strategic discussions. Listen to the episode HERE. Micro CTAWhere do you see communication breaking down most often between engineering and business in your organization? Reply and tell me. I read every message. All for now. Have a great week! -Neil |
Teach the Geek
I'm an engineer who's all about improving technical presentations. I post about my recent podcast episodes interviewing those with technical backgrounds about their public speaking journeys, my YouTube videos and blog posts offering tips on giving better technical presentations, and my podcast guest appearances. Want some public speaking tips? Please visit teachthegeek.com/tips.
Hey, Reader. Main Insight: 3 Tips to Keep to Time During Your Presentation Ever sat through a presentation where the speaker went over time? Or been the presenter who had to rush through the last few slides because you had too much to cover? Keeping to time is part of delivering an effective presentation. Your audience has set aside a specific amount of time to hear from you, and going over can cut into the next speaker's slot or leave little time for questions. Here are three ways to stay on...
Hey, Reader. Main Insight: Your CEO Needs the Right Information, Not More Information Technical professionals often assume that providing more data, detail, and analysis will help decision-makers understand a problem. But executives need more than technical accuracy. They need to understand what the information means, why it matters, and what decisions it supports. In my latest article for Inc., I explore why technical professionals need to focus less on delivering more information and more...
Hey, Reader. Main Insight: Technical Expertise Needs to Be Communicated to Be Heard Technical professionals are hired for their expertise. But knowing how to solve a problem doesn't guarantee that decision-makers will understand its significance or act on it. In my interview with Unique Training & Development for the Accelerating Operational Performance podcast, we discussed why technical professionals sometimes struggle to get their messages across and what they can do to improve. A few key...