Governance
Communicating Using Everyday Stories To Simplify Complex Ideas
By Prof. Kellen Kiambati
World Storytelling Day is celebrated every year on March 20th and for thousands of years, storytelling has been at the heart of human culture. It helps us pass down knowledge, teach values, improve communication and build strong team connections. However, storytelling is not just about sharing experiences, it is about learning, connecting, and growing together. As humans we cannot experience every situation firsthand but through shared stories we gain insight, make sense of potential risks, and become better prepared for what lies ahead. Looking at storytelling from data point of view, data story telling is the art of transforming data insights into compelling narratives that helps stakeholders make informed decisions. This involves visualization, presentation and dashboard design.
That said, more often than not we find experts having difficulties communicating technical stuff to ordinary people in a way they can easily understand. Storytelling is a very powerful way of communicating complex topics and ideas to both technical and non-technical people. With storytelling, we humanize technical knowledge, turning it into something everyone can relate to. This way we are able to connect and engage with our readers and listeners in an impactful manner and bridge the gap between technical expertise and the public’ s understanding. As experts communicating our work, we shoulder the responsibility of cracking technical jargon in research and science to transform it into content that resonates with the audiences or people we are addressing.
With time, I have come to the realization that " so what?" factor is what helps experts connect their technical work be it a research output, produce or process innovation to the real-world for impact. Using analogy with personal life experiences is excellent, however, as good as analogies are it is important to understand that as much as they present an opportunity to engage there is need to have them thought through clearly before they are delivered. Tailoring the narrative to the audience not only makes the content palatable, but also increases engagement. Bringing in real life examples, fun facts, and a bit of humor to make the content palatable is also very important.
Communicating focusing on the core message is important so as to allow the intended gains from the communication to be passed but equally it is important to think about takeaways that can be put into action while providing links to resources to help bring more clarity. By clearly stating the main point or takeaway of a presentation at the beginning, one can help their audience to understand the purpose and direction of the communication. Using visual cues is also important to keep the people we are communicating with interested or enthusiastic for the upcoming sections.
Using technical terms is perfectly fine when speaking to someone in the same field. However, when the topic is unfamiliar to your audience, it is crucial to simplify or use analogies to create mutual understanding and retention of complex ideas. Sometimes it is impossible to avoid technical jargon, but defining these terms in the simplest way possible will keep the audience engaged and informed throughout the entire presentation.
Progressively, i have discovered the critical role storytelling plays in efficiently performing our day-to-day activities and therefore one needs to constantly keep learning the art and skills to draw attention and interest of others to know our stories. Be it our body language, oral or non-verbal skills; a good storyteller needs to notice the interest patterns of their listeners, viewers or readers and put effort to be authentic and pragmatic. Life is a well of stories and what we are truly doing is shaping narratives in various forms.
In conclusion, if the topic is complex or vast, it is pertinent to have a proper storyboard that has a logical flow to deliver the message appropriately. Sometimes, when communicating it is possible to have a complex topic at hand therefore, a logical flow of the communication makes sure we are helping the audience to easily consume the topic.
Prof. Kellen Kiambati holds a BA- HRM from Kenyatta University, MBA from the Kenya Methodist University and a PhD in Business Administration with a focus in Strategic Management from JKUAT. She is a member of the Institute of Human Resource Management of Kenya. She can be reached via: Kellenkiambati @ gmail. com.
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