Breaking the Curse of Knowledge — Communicating Clearly With Non‑Technical Teams

This talk explores one of the biggest hidden barriers to effective communication between technical and non‑technical teams: the Curse of Knowledge. Once you understand something deeply, it becomes almost impossible to remember what it was like not to know it. This bias leads experts to skip steps, use jargon unconsciously, overload explanations, and assume shared context that doesn’t exist. The result? Misalignment, confusion, and frustration on both sides. This session teaches practical, repeatable techniques for breaking the Curse of Knowledge so technical communicators can make their ideas clear, accessible, and actionable for any audience. Key Topics ● What the Curse of Knowledge Is — Why experts struggle to explain things simply, and how this bias shows up in everyday team interactions. ● Thinking Like Your Audience — How to shift from “What do I know?” to “What does my audience need to understand first?” ● The Art of Saying Hard Things Simply — Replacing jargon with relatable language, analogies, and concrete examples. ● Using Stories to Make Ideas Click — How short, relatable stories and analogies cut through complexity, create context, and help non‑technical audiences instantly “get” a technical idea. This includes using micro‑stories, real‑world examples, and simple narrative framing to make explanations memorable and meaningful. ● The So‑What Test — Ensuring every message has a clear purpose and immediate relevance. ● Building Bridges, Not Barriers — Creating shared language and trust between technical and non‑technical groups. Takeaways Participants will leave with practical tools they can apply immediately, including: ● How to recognize when the Curse of Knowledge is creeping into their communication ● How to structure explanations so non‑technical audiences stay with them ● How to make messages shorter, clearer, and more audience‑focused ● How to build stronger, more collaborative relationships across teams

Former television reporter turned tech professional with a passion for making complex ideas clear and engaging for any audience. I thrive in creative, collaborative environments and bring a storyteller’s mindset to data and strategy. Skilled in JavaScript, SQL, Tableau, digital advertising, and insights-driven storytelling. I enjoy using these tools to support cross-functional teams with actionable recommendations. Recently, I’ve also contributed to managing a few technical projects for web applications—an area I’m excited to continue growing in as part of my evolving skill set.