Crystal CLEAR: How to Explain Things Better
Value is subjective.
What is valuable for one person may not be valuable for someone else.
This is a crucial insight for a speaker.
Mainly because you are providing intangible value.
Where some companies offer physical goods:
- Coca Cola.
- Clorox.
- Laptop.
You give the intangible.
‘What is the intangible value that I’m providing?’
Understanding.
Allowing someone to understand a topic better due to YOUR communication skills is a superpower.
You, my friend, have the superpower of updating someone’s software at will.
Your speaking ability gives them a new sunglass to reality.
Look closer.
Great communicators are powerful for a reason.
To be powerful, it’s important to learn how to explain things better.
Don’t try to prove how smart you are.
Make the idea the king & yourself the prince.
Ego Communicators vs Heart Communicators
Ego communicators try to prove how smart they are.
Sometimes, they try to prove their intelligence due to cockiness.
Other times, they do it due to fear.
Speech anxiety often happens from ego communication.
This time, it’s based on fear.
The person who is suffering from speech anxiety puts a lot of pressure on themselves:
‘I must perform to the grandest abilities or others will judge me for it!’
This narrative causes distorted body language, a watered-down message & worse…
Minimal to no understanding for the audience members.
Heart communicators are different.
They view themselves as a vessel for the idea.
For a heart communicator, the idea is the king.
By putting yourself number 2, you become number 1.
By putting yourself secondary to the idea, you no longer move with fear.
Fear happens when someone is trying to hold onto power.
When you are willingly giving up power to the idea, now you are on the road towards clarity.
Knowing Your Topic
Being a heart communicator is great.
However, your power will reduce if you are talking about topics that you are not well versed on.
My philosophy is simple:
Talk about topics that feel like common sense to you.
The adult mind doesn’t like this.
The adult mind has a magical ability to turn simple processes into complex ones.
It creates the narrative:
‘If I’m speaking for an occasion, then I must awe the audience members! For me to do that, I need to do a whole bunch of research on topics that bore me. This will show that I’m serious.’
False.
Pick a topic you already know & know it better.
This also prevents you from falling into the trap of having an opinion on stuff you have no business having an opinion on.
‘Did you just tell me to learn how NOT to have an opinion?’
Yessir.
Small minds think that having an opinion is some badge of honor.
Winners understand that opinions are complex.
They will form opinions on what they know or are curious to know.
The mind is not built to care about everything, as much as society will try to fool you into doing so.
Prioritize Understanding
At this point, you have:
- Put the idea first.
- Picked a topic that you know well.
Now the game is to prioritize understanding.
Imagine that your words are a signal.
The other person’s mind is a satellite.
During 2005, my family switched from cable to Dish television.
I loved the Dish because we had way more channels.
More channels led to more entertainment.
‘Awesome.’
Yea, but there was a problem.
‘What?’
When it would rain, the shows would get distorted.
The rain would alter the signals and the satellite could not process the meaning!
I hated that.
Likewise, others hate it when you:
-Use big words.
-Introduce new concepts without giving an analogy.
-Speak to show off.
^These moves cause you to rain on the satellite of the minds of your audience.
Results?
A distorted mental movie that does not allow them to understand your message.
Prioritize understanding.
Allow them to participate with you.
Casually asking:
‘Does that make sense?’
Will allow the recipient to give a micro acknowledgment indicating understanding or not.
Did you know when we ask a question, the other person’s mind is geared to formulate an answer?
Cats or dogs…?
Onto the next point.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Communication skills are just like anything else.
It’s a skill set that requires practice.
Learning how to explain things better does not happen overnight.
It’s a cumulative process that happens over time.
A person who can explain things clearly wields power.
Especially if they are well versed on topics that are in demand & can make others feel 10 inches taller.
Practice by:
–Having a journal that you write in daily.
–Writing essays online & allowing others to read them.
-Articulating your thoughts on YouTube videos.
–Giving a speech on a topic that you’re interested in.
Ultimately, the same principle holds true:
We are prioritizing understanding.
It’s impossible to teach others a topic that we do not know ourselves.
So, practice knowing the topics.
Build understanding for yourself.
What software is for computers…
Storytelling is for humans.
My definition of storytelling is:
- A connection of ideas.
Connect your ideas with the intention of adding clarity to someone’s mind.
Never connect your ideas to prove how scholarly you are.
Speak Crystal Clear & Learn How to Explain Things Better
The minute I realized that explaining things in a crystal clear way was an art…
Was the minute I felt excitement when:
- Writing these blogs.
- Recording my YouTube videos.
- Recording my podcast episodes.
The reason I jumped for joy was that I had a vision.
Each content piece created was a step in the right direction.
Sort of like Arnold Schwarzenegger when he wanted to be a great bodybuilder.
Each rep for lifting weights was a step in the right direction.
Communication skills age like fine wine.
It’s a mental sport that will keep you sharp and refined.
Never forget that.
Learn how to explain things better & alter perceptions at will!
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– ArmaniTalks 
