“Don’t rely on jargon, abbreviations, acronyms, or other technical terms, unless you also plan on clearly explaining what they mean or stand for as part of your delivery.”
Denis Boudreau – www.inklusiv.ca
Inclusive Speaking Tips
Inclusive Speaking Tip #014
Last updated on August 17, 2022
by Denis Boudreau
How do I go about doing that?
Many organizations, as well as technical experts, are notoriously gifted at using specialized language to communicate ideas or discuss various matters. Unfortunately, such language is exclusionary of anyone who does not share the knowledge or culture required to understand the references, connect the dots, or even appreciate the subtleties conveyed through what may oftentimes appear to be a secret language.
To ensure everyone in your audience can clearly understand you, avoid the use of such specialized terms, and be extremely clear in the way you communicate your ideas. When such jargon is unavoidable, then use it, but be sure to provide the necessary context, so non-initiates can still keep up. You might even offer your audience a glossary of specialized terms to help off-set the gaps.
Inclusive Professional Speaking model
This tip applies to the Inspired speaker stage.
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About Denis Boudreau
Denis Boudreau is a consultant, trainer, and speaker specializing in digital accessibility and disability inclusion. He works with organizational leaders who want to equip their teams with the skills to create accessible websites and digital products – so no one is left behind. A Certified Professional in Web Accessibility (CPWA), Denis has trained thousands of web professionals over the past 20+ years and delivered hundreds of workshops in both English and French. He has helped leading brands like Netflix, Salesforce, and Victoria’s Secret embed accessibility into their digital strategies, empowering them to meet legal obligations, improve user experience, and connect with more people, more effectively.