Pro tip: A client in Boise said 'the best answer is the one you can actually explain to a stranger at a bus stop'

I was writing up a complex change order and realized I'd filled it with contractor jargon. Rewrote it in plain English and got approval the same day. Anyone have a good rule for keeping technical stuff simple?

3 comments

3 Comments

phoenix_lopez2mo ago

My old boss at a logistics company had a rule called the "grandma test." If your grandma wouldn't get it after one read, you need to rewrite it. I used to write these overly complicated delivery route updates until a driver just called me and asked me to say it in normal words. Felt dumb but it worked way better.

jade4952mo ago

It's funny how we add complexity to seem smart at work. In my experience, the people actually doing the job, like that driver, always have the best feedback for cutting through the jargon. They just want the clear info to get their work done.

hannaho522mo ago

Ugh yes, it's like we're trained to sound important. I see it with instructions for my coffee maker or even the weirdly complex labels on cleaning products. They make simple things sound like a science project just to make you feel like you need the "expert" version.