Skills for Social Impact: How to Communicate Big Ideas to Non-Technical Audiences

In my fellowship role, I often communicate big ideas to non-technical audiences. Recently, I discussed innovative approaches for improving factory-line processes with middle management, aiming to increase daily unit production, and explained the inner workings of a new product design focused on safety improvements to a company CEO. No matter the setting, my end goal remains the same.

How can I effectively communicate these complex ideas to people who may not be familiar with the technical details? In other words, what’s the best way to break large concepts into manageable chunks so that my audience stays engaged and correctly informed?

“The answer lies in understanding who you’re speaking to and dynamically tailoring your message to fit their communication style. Meet them at their level, and be intentional about how you structure what you share.”

Getting a big idea across isn’t just about the concept or the details—it’s about how the idea is delivered.

Step One

When I begin a conversation or draft a presentation, I ask myself: Who is my audience? Where are they coming from? Are they friends, family, coworkers, or neighbors? If I’m in a workplace setting, I ask where the people I’m addressing fit within the company’s organizational structure. Are they line operators, suppliers, middle management, or the CEO?

Understanding who you’re talking to is the first step in successfully sharing a big idea. It shapes the words you choose, the examples you use, and the level of detail you provide. That’s the heart of strategic communication when working with non-technical audiences.

For example, if I want to share a new solution to increase production rates, the way I explain it to the CEO is going to look very different from how I’d share it with my grandparents.

When talking with a CEO, you have to be quick and concise. Their time is limited, so I stick to high-level outcomes and results. If they want more detail, they’ll ask. This isn’t the time to bury them in technical specifics.

With my grandparents, I might take more time to set the stage and explain the project’s background. I’d use personal stories and relatable analogies to make the technical details easier to follow.

The point is: tailoring your message to your audience is a skill worth developing. It applies not only in the workplace but in everyday life. Effective communication is about adjusting both your content and your style to meet your audience where they are. Put yourself in their shoes, and talk with them at their level.

As a side note, tailoring your message to people's personalities will help you become a master at communication. One helpful framework to use is the four color personality types, adjusting delivery based on whether someone prefers data, stories, action, or relationships. This method has transformed the way I communicate. If you’re curious, here’s a video link that goes deeper into the concept.

Step Two

Step two in communicating big ideas is all about leveraging verbal and nonverbal cues. Learning to “read the room” is just as important as the words you use. Body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice can all signal whether your message is connecting—or whether your audience is drifting away.

The last thing you want is to lose their attention.

More than once, I’ve gone into too much detail or lingered too long on a single point, only to see confusion or disengagement on people’s faces. Big ideas can feel overwhelming; after all, your audience is hearing it for the first time, and their brains need space to process new information.

That’s why the final step is to deliver your message in a clear, well-laid-out structure. To prevent people from getting lost in the weeds, you need to guide them through the idea in a way that feels organized and digestible.

“One of my engineering professors once gave my team this advice before our capstone presentation: ‘Start them at 30,000 feet and smoothly take them down to ground level.’”

That guidance has stuck with me. Without first painting the big picture, our audience would have been lost in the technical details.

So structure matters. Don’t overwhelm your listeners with everything at once. Have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Guide them along a narrative path. Use pauses, keep things simple, and give them space to absorb what you’re saying.

At the end of the day, communicating big ideas isn’t about dumbing things down—it’s about making them accessible. Whether you’re talking with executives, coworkers, or family, the key is to meet people where they are, adjust your style, and guide them through the idea with clarity and intention. When you do, your ideas don’t just land—they stick.