Complex vocabulary and acronyms in corporate settings cause employees to disengage. To keep the widest possible audience present and invested, leaders should communicate at an eighth-grade reading level, prioritizing clarity over intellectualism.

To communicate complex ideas, write at a 4th or 5th-grade level. Warren Buffett, a master of a complicated business, writes his famous annual letters with extreme simplicity. Using simple language and analogies makes your message more accessible and powerful, not less intelligent.

The first thing a customer hears must be so simple it requires no mental effort to understand. Nuanced, complex ideas are ignored. Extreme simplicity wins because it makes people feel they understand the issue instantly, earning you the right to explain more later.

Trying to be overly clever with metaphors or complex language can distract and confuse an audience. Simple, direct narratives—like a "Dick and Jane" book—are more effective because they ensure the core message is easily understood and retained.

Humans are hardwired to seek status, a remnant of tribal survival instincts. In finance and other professions, complexity is used to signal sophistication and justify high fees. This drive often leads to complicated, suboptimal solutions when a simpler approach would be more effective.

Abstract jargon registers differently with listeners, being associated with the mouth (empty talk). Concrete, simple language registers as action-oriented 'hand' words. Leaders should optimize their 'hand-to-mouth' word ratio to ensure their communication inspires action, not confusion.

People lack the attention for complex solutions. A simple, memorable soundbite, like Donald Trump's "Build a wall," will often defeat a comprehensive, nuanced plan, like Jeb Bush's book on immigration. The message with the lowest cognitive load wins, regardless of its substance.

Sellers often adopt an overly formal, academic persona when speaking to executives, which creates distance. In reality, executive conversations are simple, direct, and unpretentious. Drop the jargon and complicated words. Your goal is clear communication, not demonstrating your vocabulary.

Most pitches fail the "Sounds Nice but Signifies Nothing" (SNSN) test by using jargon that is meaningless to the buyer. Vague phrases like "leverage machine learning" create confusion. Instead, use simple, "dumb human language" that quickly and clearly explains what your product does and what it means for the buyer.