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About 9 years in the past, I used to be teaching a staff of engineers from an oil refinery on presentation abilities. I went to lunch with a bunch of them one afternoon, and we acquired to speaking about how gasoline is made.
I requested about how the totally different grades of gasoline are made that we see on the pump. One of many engineers requested, “Have you ever ever been to a Mexican restaurant?” I stated sure.
He continued, “Say you’re at a Mexican restaurant and the server brings a giant basket of chips and salsa to your desk. In the event that they introduced solely scorching salsa and gentle salsa, what would you do in case you wished medium salsa?”
“Combine them collectively,” I proposed, not understanding what this needed to do with gasoline.
“Yep, that may work nice. And, it’s sooner and simpler than monitoring down the server for medium salsa, in the event that they even had it. That’s similar to how we make the three grades of gasoline you get on the pump,” he continued.
“We solely make a excessive grade and a low grade. To get the center grade, we combine the excessive grade and the low grade collectively. It’s rather a lot simpler than making one other grade on the refinery, similar to it’s simpler for you simply combine the salsas collectively.”
The complete interplay was lower than a minute, but the analogy was so good that I nonetheless bear in mind it years later. Right here’s how you are able to do the identical, utilizing the identical 4 steps he did:
1. Resolve What’s Important
In fact, there may be much more complexity to the “mixing collectively” of grades than the engineer described, however since I’m not a petroleum engineer, the main points aren’t vital. I solely wanted the general perspective to reply my query.
Little doubt he’d obtained this query earlier than and determined that that overwhelming majority of individuals don’t need (or care about) the complicated particulars. It’s tempting to wow folks with our data in a specific space. Nonetheless, what actually wows folks is our capacity to zero in on simply what they want.
2. Decide One thing Comparable And Acquainted
Both this engineer was sensible at developing with analogies on the spot or (extra seemingly) he’d gotten this query earlier than and discovered the best way to clarify this to folks. Whereas not an actual analogy, the story concerning the salsa was related sufficient that he might use it to make the complicated clear.
Furthermore, he selected a narrative that was acquainted – in any case, many individuals residing in Southern California have been to a Mexican restaurant. It’s important we selected one thing that’s acquainted to whoever our viewers is. If we don’t, we’ll solely misplaced folks.
3. Inform The Acquainted Story
Discover how the engineer advised a narrative to carry my expertise with consuming Mexican meals proper into the forefront of my thoughts? Earlier than he started explaining the complicated, he jogged my memory of what I already knew and highlighted the steps he’d join again to later.
We must always goal to do the identical factor when making an analogy. Inform a narrative concerning the acquainted first so that you’re each on the identical web page.
4. Join The Advanced
As soon as he verified I used to be on the identical web page with him on one thing acquainted, he transitioned to the true motive for the story. As he defined gasoline grades, he instantly linked each bit again to what I already knew.
Connecting the 2 is vital and works greatest when executed step-by-step. I take into consideration an excellent analogy just like the enamel in zipper. You might be connecting every step of the complicated clarification to a corresponding step within the acquainted story. Making the hyperlink at every step additionally disciplines you from going off on particulars that aren’t invaluable on your viewers.
With a bit of planning on the easy and acquainted, I’m assured you need to use these 4 steps to elucidate nearly something of complexity to those that doesn’t have the identical experience that you just do.
[reminder]What’s one thing complicated that you just discover difficult to elucidate? How will you place these 4 steps into motion?[/reminder]
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