How can you explain industry jargon to clients?

As simple as this sounds, structuring your approach to your audience is of paramount importance. It does not make sense to use high level terminology or jargon to explain concepts to a beginner or new entrant to the market. However, an experienced user/client will find your use of familiar language and explanations/understanding of complex concepts reassuring and subsequently build their confidence in you.

Helping an inexperienced client understand a complex industry concept is a delicate balance between not over-simplifying and under-valuing the concept and ensuring that the client understand what is needed to achieve the end goal and justify the price. I find that sufficient time and a process of building from extremely low-level language, explanation, analogy, up to the acceptable level works. One must however be willing to spend this time, with patience, understanding that this also builds the relationship and trust.

1. Start by identifying the client's level of understanding and tailor your explanation accordingly. 2. Use simple, everyday language to describe complex concepts, avoiding technical terms when possible. 3. Relate jargon to familiar scenarios or analogies that the client can easily grasp. 4. Break down concepts into smaller, manageable parts to avoid overwhelming them. 5. Provide examples or case studies to illustrate how a term applies in a real-world context. 6. Encourage questions and be patient, ensuring the client feels comfortable asking for clarification. 7. Continuously gauge their understanding and adjust your explanations as needed. 8. Offer resources or glossaries they can refer to later for a deeper understanding.

A keen interest in your clients needs, satisfaction and the understanding that you are in the early stages of building what might be a long and fruitful relationship are paramount to this point. Always check that the client is following and understanding what you are explaining. Also, be sure to assume an attitude that allows the client to feel comfortable asking questions and not understanding certain things the first time. Be patient enough to walk through the same concept many times with many variations.

“The only thing I know is that I know nothing, and I am no quite sure that I know that.” -Socrates As a core philosophy this has served me well in the pursuit of constantly and rigorously learning, re-learning and keeping pace with ever changing industry and parallel industry knowledge and standards. It is vital to do this.