How to have a Technical conversation with Non-Technical people?

My Portuguese teacher always said at the end of an explanation: Did I make myself understood?

Because if it wasn't understood, all that explanation wouldn't be worth it!

Have you ever tried to explain technical matters to people from another area and were unable to be understood?

This is a challenge for any sector, the lack of communication hinders delivery time and even leads to completely opposite paths, if there was an agreement from the beginning on what to do.

I went through this several times, because we didn't learn the right approach right away. Go through trial and error until you understand the best paths to take.

Within this scenario, I brought a way that helped me and can also help you on your professional journey to communicate better when it comes to technical matters.

Here are some strategies you can apply when you need to solve JavaScript and React problems:

Don't get hung up on these technologies. But use it as a base.

? Analogies/Comparisons: Putting something familiar to everyone is a great way to break down the complexity. For example, I can describe the JavaScript DOM as a "family tree" of elements, where each node (element) has "parents", "children", and "siblings". In React, the concept of "components" is like building blocks that fit together to form a larger interface. Or maybe, toy boxes.

?Focus on the “why” and benefits: Instead of getting bogged down in technical details, show how these tools help solve everyday problems. For example, React makes web pages work faster and more interactively. This improves the user experience, which can lead to more sales or faster support responses.

? Use simple visualizations and demos: Charts, flowcharts, and quick demos help you visualize how the code affects the interface. Tools like Figma or quick mockups can illustrate the transformation that JavaScript and React cause in the interface.

? Simplify jargon: Avoid overly technical terms. Talk about "boxes" and "lists" instead of "divs" and "arrays". This makes it easier to understand how elements behave on the screen.

? Encourage questions: Create an environment where staff feel comfortable asking questions. Sometimes, explaining something in a simple way means identifying and clarifying doubts that everyone has!

Simplify things! Don't try to sound smarter just because you talk difficult or something.

Make yourself understood wherever you are!

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