Clear communications and advanced mathematics

One of the biggest obstacles to clear for effective communication, and how to avoid it, by Communications Consultant, Simon Hall...

A Fourier transform in mathematical language

Here's a critical point if you want to get your message across clearly, concisely and convincingly. 

Before I go into that, take a second to look again at my opening line, above. 

 

Was it simple and short? Written in plain English? And thus (hopefully) immediately drew you into my story?

As opposed to - 

Allow me to outline unto you a principle which came upon me in an experience this week, one which I suspect you will find interesting, and perchance will add value to your thinking, nothwithstanding that the notion may have occurred to you before; even so, I contend it arguably worth reiteration. 

 

I'm talking waffle, pompous speak, and jargon.

If you want to communicate in a compelling manner cut that nonsense out, to put it simply.

 

The image above shows what happened this week to make me think of it.

Don't fret, I'm just having my hilarious idea of a joke. That's where the maths ends.

 

It came about because I've been working on a rebranding project for part of the University of Cambridge. We were talking about their logo, and a Professor said...

I wonder if including a Fourier Transform would work?

Happily, this is a wonderful Prof with a great sense of humour, and so went on, with a smile, to explain to we less intellectual beings...

That's a tapering zig zag.

Guess which version we understood? Which communicated the idea most clearly and effectively?

 

Every profession has its jargon. In my days in the BBC, we might refer to a 2 way via SNG ex presser + clips. 

Which to normal people means a reporter talking live to a camera via a satellite truck about a press conference, using excerpts of what was said there. 

 

Jargon is ok within a profession. But to get your message across to the wider world you have to translate into ordinary English, and keep it short and simple while you're at it.

Upon which note, the time has fled by once more, and so the moment has come to terminate this musing and bid you a fond farewell until next we might meet again, dear reader mine.

Or alternatively... that's all for this blog, bye for now!



Looking for something specific?