46: Greg Williams - Explaining technical ideas to non-technical people

Greg Williams, VP of Strategy at Western Computer, discusses the importance of effective communication in translating technical information to non-technical audiences. He emphasizes the need to simplify complex concepts, avoid jargon and acronyms, and focus on the business benefits. Greg shares his experience in training his team to communicate effectively and the importance of pausing for questions and checking in with the audience. He also highlights the value of recording and reviewing presentations to improve communication skills. Greg's advice is to slow down, listen to the room, and take your time when communicating. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Overview of Greg's Role 01:55 Translating Technical Jargon and Plain Language 03:10 The Importance of Pausing and Checking In 07:02 Coaching Team Members for Effective Communication 09:25 Navigating Joint Presentations 12:05 Don't give too many options 15:40 Build an outline for presentations and practice 19:35 Living in a multi-cultural household 21:50 Greg's first presentation experience wasn't good 23:00 When clients get into the weeds 28:35 What do you want to see in future episodes?