Communications professionals often work with experts who speak the specialized language of their field, and sometimes struggle to translate expert jargon into meaningful messages for non-experts. To communicate with maximum motivating power, we must win the battle over jargon: Psychological research shows that jargon disrupts language processing in the brain and makes people less likely to understand, remember or even believe the ideas we are trying to communicate. Jargon kills attention, comprehension, retention and motivation—and we’re going to help you fight back.
Session Leaders:
Doug Hattaway and Eric Zimmerman of Hattaway Communications
What’s in it for me?
Participants in this session will learn lessons from cognitive psychology and linguistics to help them win the battle over jargon. Drawing on their work with experts and communications professionals in fields as varied as environmental science, public health, social justice and international security, Doug and Eric will discuss the science of effective message development. They’ll also share practical tips for replacing jargon with language that is memorable and motivating. Interactive exercises will offer participants the opportunity to test-drive jargon-busting tools on an issue of interest to them.
How the training will work:
The session will kick off with an introduction to the psychological and linguistic lessons that demonstrate how jargon harms effective communication. Subsequent exercises will help participants apply these lessons to their own work, and develop messages with maximum motivating power.
Activities will include:
Key Takeaways:
Each participant will leave with new tools to systematically scrub jargon from communications intended for non-experts, and instead develop messages that are easy to understand, likely to be retained, and motivating to their audiences.
