Slowing Down to Support Learning

I had the opportunity to watch an artisan creating a silk rug during my recent trip to Istanbul. The pattern was intricate, and she moved skillfully. With years of practice, her fingers moved quickly doing a ballet to music with which I was unfamiliar. 

How does this reflect your conversations with KOLs? 

Are you able to skillfully navigate the conversation the way the woman navigated the complex pattern of the rug? 

Are you able to swiftly switch gears when a new topic is posed, like changing colors to follow the pattern of the rug?

After years of experience, this comes naturally.

During the demonstration, the woman slowed down and the process was narrated to me. Step by step, movement by movement. I watched closely. It didn’t seem so complex at this speed. I better understood the process and respected the years it took her to master her craft.

When navigating scientific discussions where you have expertise, how do you make the information understandable to an audience who’s hearing this information for the first time?  Do you slow down and bring others along to support their understanding? Do you narrate science step-by-step? 

The artisan was the expert, without question, yet she slowed down to show me her craft. I was anxious to learn more and she complied. I left having a greater understanding and a deeper respect for her abilities (but without a silk rug). Does your audience leave every discussion with a better understanding of the science you present?