The secret to effective communication in the workplace is to use simple language. Whether you’re communicating via email, presentations, or reports, your message needs to be direct and easy to understand. Most people complain about miscommunication or lack of communication in the workplace.

This could be in the form of a misspelled email, a failed sales pitch, or a report that fails to convey the required information. The main reason for this is that most of our communication is heavily veiled in complex language. We often make the mistake of using technical words and phrases to communicate with people who are not expected to understand what they mean.

Sometimes the message can be so long and confusing that the meaning can get lost somewhere along the way. The answer to communicate better is to use simple language. The chances of conveying the wrong message are minimized when your language is direct and to the point. People generally try to communicate a technical topic through technical jargon. Conversely, the same message is more likely to be clearly understood when it is explained in simple, everyday language.

When you buy an appliance in a store, the salesperson is more likely to explain the features and operation to you in a way that you can clearly understand. Now imagine if they had tried to use terms and technical words to communicate the same information. The chances of you buying the appliance are higher in the first instance when you didn’t have to try very hard to figure out what the salesperson was saying.

Just because you’re used to certain terms and phrases in your daily work doesn’t mean everyone will understand the terminology. When communicating, don’t take jargon for granted. Try to make your communication as clear and simple as possible so that it reaches the maximum number of people.

Children’s books are a good example of the use of simple language. Even complex technical topics like how a space shuttle works or the parts of an airplane are explained in children’s books using simple words and phrases. Even though the writer has refrained from using complex terms, she will still be able to understand the meaning and maybe learn something new. This shows that it is possible to convey information even of a technical nature without using big and complicated words and phrases.