Simple speaking doesn’t mean simplistic
I think we are a bit scared of the word simple.
And more specifically, simple speaking.
Because somewhere along the way a lot of us have picked up the idea that if we say something simply, people will think we are not expert enough. Not clever enough. Not impressive enough.
Or worse, that we are patronising. Dumbing it down. Talking to people as if they cannot keep up.
But simplicity in speaking is not about dumbing anything down.
It’s about making sure people understand you without having to work so hard for it.
And if you want your speaking to have impact — whether that’s in a presentation, a pitch, a meeting or a workshop — that matters enormously.
Because the point of speaking is not to prove how much is in your head.
It’s to help people get something!
Why we overcomplicate it
We’re under pressure. Someone drops a presentation on us at the last minute and we panic a bit.
So we do what feels safest.
We bung everything in.
Every point. Every caveat. Every detail. Every statistic we might possibly need.
Because more words will protect us right?
By covering absolutely everything it means we cannot possibly miss anything important.
But the truth is usually the opposite.
When we throw everything at people, they often miss the very point we most needed them to get.
The key idea gets buried in long sentences and over-explaining.
The thing we wanted them to remember gets lost in the waffle.
The action we wanted them to take never quite happens, because they left a bit confused.
Steve Jobs showed how to do simple speaking brilliantly when Apple launched the iPod in October 2001. He described it as “your entire music collection in your pocket”.
Clear. Easy to understand. And very hard to forget.
A lot of us are tempted to brain-dump because we think it shows our knowledge, our expertise, our value.
But its far more likely to waste people’s time and muddy the waters.
So this month try this instead:
Tell it how it is.
Spend a bit more time making it simple.
Say it in a way people can understand first time round.
Because when people don’t have to work so hard to follow you, they are much more likely to stay with you.
And if they stay with you, you can then get your message heard.
A good test of whether it’s clear
There is a quote often attributed to Einstein: “if you cannot explain it simply, you do not understand it well enough.”
I love this!
So how can we achieve it?
Ask yourself: could you explain it to an eight-year-old so they properly get it?
Children are extremely good at telling you when something makes no sense whatsoever!
Here are three ways to make speaking simplicity easier
1. Check whether you can explain it simply
Try the eight-year-old test.
Could you explain your point in plain language, without disappearing into jargon or long-winded detail?
If not, back to the speaking drawing board.
You’ve done your thinking but not translated that clearly to the speaking
You may just need to break it down more for yourself first.
And then edit. Ruthlessly.
2. Prepare less than you think you need
If you are given 20 minutes, prepare 10.
Honestly.
Most of us will speak for longer than we think anyway.
And this is a great habit to put in place because it forces you to decide what actually matters.
If it helps, sort your content into three piles:
Must know — crucial and absolutely needs to be included.
Should know — useful, but not essential.
Nice to know — interesting if there is time, but definitely not critical.
Do that properly and you will almost always end up with less material and a much stronger message.
3. Get rid of the jargon
That’s it! Really.
Get rid of the jargon.
As much as you possibly can.
Because jargon creates distance and makes people work harder than they need to.
And it is one of the quickest ways to lose simplicity of speaking altogether.
So next time you are preparing to speak, don’t ask yourself how you can sound more impressive.
Ask yourself how you can make it easier to understand.
Then people will listen and remember.
And the version they are much more likely to act on.
Want your team to get better at this kind of speaking?
Jo delivers practical, energising sessions that help people speak with clarity, confidence and credibility – without hiding behind polish or perfection.
Get in touch using the form below – or drop Jo a line at contactme@jodarby.co.uk or message via LinkedIn.
You can also find out more about Jo’s corporate group training via Voice in the Room.