Tech is a scary place for a lot of folks. We over-use acronyms and take a perverse joy in confusing the shit out of anyone listening. This is not an accident, this is by design. Not perhaps *purposeful* design, but design nonetheless. If we are not confusing, we are not valuable. Or so the story goes. But here’s the thing… given the speed the tech world moves in today, often times our expertise could be upended by a well-crafted Google search (well, Perplexity search anyway, but I digress).
On of the most useful skills we hone in tech is confidence in communication; especially when it comes to vocabulary, delivery, reaction and tone. In the fast-paced world of tech, where innovation and adaptability are paramount, the ability to communicate effectively with clients, investors, and team members can make or break a project or environment. And at the heart of effective communication lies a solid grasp of vocabulary yes, but the parallel skill that lands those big words for clients is confidence. This lesson is one I think has taken the longest to foster as well, it is the one that accelerates with experience. Confidence grows, outcomes grow with them.
Growing up, I was always fascinated by the power of words. I have spent thousands of hours pouring over dictionaries and thesauruses, word-a-day sites, calendars; absorbing new terms and phrases like a sponge. Professionally, I quickly realized that having a diverse vocabulary was not only fun at parties but also essential for navigating the complex landscape of emerging technologies and business jargon.
I once was listening to a podcast; one of the top-listened to ones in the world. The host regularly mispronounced segue. He said “sedge”. It drove me nuts until one day his co-host corrected him and it never happened again. He said it incorrectly though with so much conviction that I think a lot of folks just skipped it. When we are talking about vocabulary, we really do have to fold in confidence. In this case I completely disagree anyone should be using words they do not 100% know what they mean. But if you must, be sure to sell it.
Of course, confidence alone is not enough. It must be backed by genuine knowledge and a commitment to continuous learning. In an industry where change is the only constant, staying up-to-date with the latest trends, technologies, and best practices is crucial for maintaining credibility and delivering value to clients. Delivering that knowledge confidently will likely provide a modicum of padding around the general unrest of not fully understanding the process.
Mastering these conversational skills allows you to fully illustrate the shades of thought in any situation. What we do here has nuance and the more you can confidently communicate that to those around you, the richer the final product will be and the more value you can bring not only to your current client base but for all after.
