Or “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.”
As theoretical physicist, philosopher and author, Albert Einstein said: “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.”
But ideas will remain as ideas if they are stuck in your head.
So how do you translate your ideas into words, pictures or something that can be explained simply enough for people to understand? I agree that engineering ideas can be complicated and complex. But that doesn’t give you the excuse: “Oh it’s an engineering term. You wouldn’t understand.”
Read the following carefully – they will help you to get your point across, pitch your ideas to your friends, clients and reduce the number of politely bewildered faces whenever you try to convey your ideas.
1) Give a title to your idea
It creates a reference to your idea. And give a simple and catchy too! Articulating ideas also means reaching out to your readers or listeners in the best way that attracts their attention!
2) Create lists
Everybody loves lists. A simple Pro/Cons list will help you when you are expressing your ideas. It will also help you in your thought process on how well formed your idea is.
3) Speak to the layman
Not everybody knows your fancy engineering lingo or the fabulous formulas that you are so used to working with. This also doubles up as a way of testing if you know and understand your idea well enough to translate it into a simpler way. (Yes, back to Einstein’s quote again)
Follow these three steps when articulating your idea in a proposal or a presentation or whatever. But if you find these all too long winded – just remember K.I.S.S.: Keep It Simple, Stupid!
By Ong Yizhen
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