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 technical teams lose nontechnical audiences and how to fix it
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Hey, Reader. Main Insight: Research Needs Translation Before It Can Influence DecisionsTechnical experts often assume that if the methodology is sound, the message will land. But methodology alone does not create clarity. Nontechnical audiences need context, relevance, and meaning before they can act on research findings. This is the core idea behind my Inc. article, How Experts Can Bridge the Communication Gap for Non-Technical Audiences. Teams do not struggle because the work is unclear. They struggle because the message is not translated into what nontechnical audiences need to understand. The fix is simple: Lead with the insight, explain the implication, then walk through the evidence. If people cannot repeat your insight in one sentence, they cannot support it. Read the article HERE. Podcast Episode: Mark Castleberry on Communicating Research With ClarityIn this episode, I’m joined by Mark Castleberry, a Director of Enterprise Applications with more than two decades of experience leading HR technology, ERP, and cloud transformation programs across both consulting and industry roles. In our conversation, we explore where communication breaks down between technical teams and business stakeholders, how those gaps impact outcomes, and what strong technical communicators do differently when they present, translate trade-offs, and build alignment across mixed audiences. Check out the episode HERE or HERE. Micro CTAWhere do you see research findings getting misunderstood 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...