Think back to when you last opened a new board game - and someone takes the instructions and reads them out - then expects you to play straight away.
How does that feel? Desperately trying to recall all of the information you’ve just been told. Maybe you can’t even remember the overall aim of the game. There was just too much information all being told at once for you to be able to recall and understand how to play.
That feeling of confusion and overload is similar to how an audience might feel when presented with explanations of complex concepts, especially in fields like animal health. We’re often dealing with intricate concepts—anatomy, biochemistry, pharmacology—that can feel overwhelming if delivered all at once. People naturally struggle to retain large amounts of new information, and dumping it all at once doesn’t make it any easier.
So, how can we overcome this challenge? Here are some strategies to make communicating complex ideas clearer and more engaging.
- Introduce the Concept Simply. Start with the most straightforward explanation possible. Think of it as giving your audience the gist—something they can grasp right away. Once they’ve got that basic understanding, you can start adding layers of detail. Clarity from the outset sets the foundation for deeper exploration.
So, in the context of reading instructions to a board game - this would be to first just explain the aim of the game and the general way of playing.
- Use Visuals to Support Your Message. Visual aids can be a game changer, especially when explaining topics like anatomy, biochemistry, or pharmacology. Whether it’s diagrams, flowcharts, or infographics, visuals break down complex information into digestible pieces. They also help reinforce understanding by appealing to different learning styles.
This is easy with the analogy of a board game - you use the board game to practice, and show the players how to play.
- Layer Your Explanation. Don’t dive straight into the nitty-gritty. Build up the detail gradually and pause to summarise before moving on to the next layer of complexity. This helps your audience follow along without feeling overwhelmed. Think of it as teaching in stages rather than delivering everything at once.
With a board game, after explaining the aim of the gain and overarching rules of play, start to introduce the finer rules and details - which cards mean certain things, what happens when you roll a certain number on the dice, and so on…
- Tell Stories or Use Analogies. Stories, examples, and analogies can make abstract ideas feel more tangible. For example, if you’re talking about how working memory gets saturated, you could use board game instructions as an analogy: just as reading all the rules at once can be confusing, bombarding the brain with too much information can hinder understanding. Analogies create relatable connections that stick with your audience.
Wrapping up
When you’re communicating complex ideas—whether in animal health, neuroscience, or any other field—remember that people need time to absorb and process information. By introducing concepts simply, using visuals, layering your explanations, and weaving in stories, you give your audience the best chance of truly grasping what you’re sharing. Instead of feeling like they’re drowning in details, they’ll walk away with clarity and insight.
