Communicating Technical Roles to Non-Technical People

In modern companies, complex technology is an inevitable part of everyday operations. As many managers discover, it can be difficult to explain the roles of technology and technical professionals to nontechnical people. When you are struggling with how to improve communication between technical and nontechnical employees, it can be helpful to streamline the process and take steps to improve understanding on both sides.

The gap between technical and nontechnical professionals can seem unbridgeable. Many employees go through their college, career training, and previous jobs without focusing on skills nonessential to their areas of specialty. In a website development company, for example, the graphic designers often have a limited understanding of what the back-end coders actually do. Likewise, the coders often do not fully understand the nuances and purpose of the designers' work. This mutual lack of understanding can lead to animosity, derision, confusion, and frustration. When you are in charge of finding out how to improve communication between the two groups, it is crucial to find a way to make the technology relatable and accessible.

For professionals in the technology industry, it can be difficult to relate to nontechnical people. When it comes to understanding technology, the average person knows only as much as they need to in order to perform their professional and personal tasks. In some cases, it doesn't matter; most people can happily use their company's intranet without worrying about how the technology works. For that reason, it is important to choose your battles when deciding how to improve communication between technical and nontechnical employees. Save your time and energy for the situations when understanding technology is crucial to the safety, functionality, and profitability of the company.

In learning how to improve communication with your nontechnical colleagues, attitude is everything. A condescending tone will immediately put your audience on the defensive. Approach each conversation with humility and respect, and your listeners will be more receptive. Avoid using jargon and technical terms; instead, explain the technology and technical roles by putting the focus on the user. Because most nontechnical professionals are focused on some aspect of the customer experience, a user-oriented approach will be more relatable. According to an article in Forbes magazine, humanized communication is more effective than impersonal, overly technical communication.

If your company deals in highly complex systems, the knowledge gap between technical and nontechnical people may be too great to surpass without assistance. A person who deals with mechanical engineering, for example, may not possess the skills to communicate vital information to the marketing manager of the company. As you are learning how to improve communication, you may find that a third party can provide the most helpful solution. In that case, you should seek the support of a technical communication specialist. The specialist should have a background in your target technology as well as in communication; many such professionals have degrees in scientific and technical communication. With the in-depth understanding of both groups, the specialist will be able to smooth out the process and get the crucial information to both parties.

Whether you're dealing with sophisticated engineering technology or simple website code, finding out how to improve communication often involves a learning curve. By respecting all employees and knowing when to seek help, you can boost your company's productivity and improve the quality of the end product.

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