Tip 6: Avoid technical jargon and acronyms whenever possible. If you must use technical jargon and/or acronyms, be sure to define them and/or spell them out. Do not assume a nontechnical audience knows the terms; it's actually safer to just assume they don’t, and to your audience you’ll come across as you being thoughtful and thorough. Tip 7: Use visuals. Not everyone learns the same way; while some people are more auditory, others may be more visual or tactile learners. It’s also a lot easier to explain new concepts when you have photos, charts, diagrams, or a conceptual drawing. Keep in mind, the visuals should be easy to interpret; they should be a standalone piece with a key/legend, arrows showing flow, a layout of structures, etc., that someone can read at a later time and still understand. Tip 8: Reassess the audience during your presentation. In the age of technology, it’s impossible not to be distracted by phones, side conversations, or an environment that is too cold or too hot, so take a moment to pause and look around the room. Are your attendees asleep (and drooling!) or texting, or are they giving you their undivided attention? You may want to change your tone, tell a joke, give the audience a break, or open the room for questions if they aren’t paying attention. Tip 9: Slow down. Nothing is more frustrating to an audience than trying to digest a large amount of new information more quickly than they can scribble down notes. Adopt a slower and steadier pace,
An example of a visual used to explain a technical concept. This interactive display shows homeowners how damaged lateral pipes lead to inflow/ infiltration.
again focusing on the impact of the presentation, not the details. Tip 10: Use storytelling and metaphors. Use these as techniques to convey technical information in easy-to-digest terms. If you can draw similarities to an audience’s life, it feels more personal and attendees feel more vested. Tip 11: Show compassion. If you’re dealing with someone who is agitated or frustrated, bear in mind that it’s not personal and try to be empathetic. Most people just want to be heard. And while trolls do exist, use your best judgment when someone is deliberately offensive, or be provactive in deciding when to walk away or discontinue the conversation.
Practice Makes Perfect While there are many tips for communicating with nontechnical audiences and there is no “one size fits all,” the key to mastering
communications is to practice, practice, practice! Grab a friend, a significant other, your grandmother, or even the kids. Start with people you feel comfortable with and try explaining your profession or even a project to them. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes (I know I’ve made several dozen over the years giving tours). Most importantly, if you’re not sure where to start, begin by putting yourself in the minds of the audience members. Is what you’re saying something the attendees would know? If you’re not sure, go back and read Tip 2. Whether you’re a professor, an engineer, a treatment facility manager, or an operator (or none or all of these), your work helps serve the community. Hopefully these 11 tips will help and encourage you to communicate with your audiences more effectively and more often. Shea Dunifon is the education coordinator at Pinellas County Utilities South Cross Bayou Advanced Water Reclamation Facility in St. Petersburg and is chair of the FWEA Public Communications and Outreach Committee. S
NEWS BEAT Steven McDonald has joined Raftelis as its chief economist to lead new valuation and economic impact analysis services. He was formerly with CSG Economics at GAI Consultants. “We’ve been getting calls seeking our help in valuing a utility or a potential development, and we know there will be more need for this specialty in the future,” said Peiffer Brandt, Raftelis chief executive officer and president. “We’ve partnered with Steven for many years through our Florida office, so it’s great to tap his expertise within our firm now.” McDonald has more than 30 years of experience working with local government, utility, and private business clients throughout the U.S. He is currently the president of the
Florida North State Chapter of the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts, and is an adjunct instructor of economic concepts and managerial economics with Webster University at its Orlando campus.
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A sweeping water quality measure sought by Gov. Ron DeSantis was recently approved by the Florida Senate, with supporters calling it a major step toward easing runoff from farms and developments that have fed algae blooms plaguing the state. Environmental groups, however, warn that the legislation (SB 712) doesn’t go far enough and have criticized lawmakers for allowing farms to self-monitor their runoff into waterways—although farms would now have to be inspected every two years.
The Sierra Club, Florida Springs Council, and Florida Waterkeepers have outlined problems with the legislation, concluding that it will not achieve water quality goals in most state waterways that are already damaged. In a 12-page letter, the organizations have called it the “policy equivalent of slapping a Band-Aid on a gunshot wound. It may not hurt, but it won’t really help.” The bill still has to clear the House. The legislation changes how the state regulates everything from septic tanks to city wastewater systems and stormwater management. It also would be more difficult for companies to get permits for bottling spring water, while a state study of the practice and its effect is also ordered by the legislation. The legislation grew out of recommendations by the Blue-Green Continued on page 66
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