I know we all believe we understand...

First things first, we need to define what communication really means. As per defined by Merriam Webster, it is a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior. All people communicate. It may be in a form of verbal (spoken) or non-verbal (written, actions, gestures, facial expression). We communicate to express needs, to share ideas and information, to reassure, express feelings, and socialize, ask questions, share experience’s, give instructions, share opinions,  or give encouragement. However, there are some instances that communicating with other people becomes ineffective. It may be failure to send what our thoughts really imply or ideas were not fully grasp by the receiver. There are many factors or barriers that may cause this situation.

There are many famous authors, writers, scientist that describes the importance and essence of communication. But among others, the famous quote I really like regarding such topic is the one that was attributed by Albert Einstein. It goes like “if you can’t explain it to a six-year old, you don’t understand it yourself”. However, as further research, some bloggers says this was not said directly by the Einstein but if you open page 418 of Einstein: His Life and Times (1972) by Ronald W. Clark, it says that Louis de Broglie did attribute a similar statement to Einstein: To de Broglie, Einstein revealed an instinctive reason for his inability to accept the purely statistical interpretation of wave mechanics. It was a reason which linked him with Rutherford, who used to state that "it should be possible to explain the laws of physics to a barmaid." Einstein, having a final discussion with de Broglie on the platform of the Gare du Nord in Paris, whence they had traveled from Brussels to attend the Fresnel centenary celebrations, said "that all physical theories, their mathematical expressions apart ought to lend themselves to so simple a description 'that even a child could understand them.' "

The main idea of the said quote is that you need to fully understand and grasp a certain topic, its true essence and able to interpret it to its basic and simplest form before you will be able to share it with others. In that way, communication will be easy and faster at the same time that even a six-year old kid will able to understand the information you want to share.  Relevant examples and analogies may be used for you to relate the idea for better understanding.

This line applies well in the organization with complex tasks and where complicated topics and issues were discussed like in product innovation, marketing and many more. As a whole, an organization provides general goal and objectives for the company. Moreover, this goals and objectives where broken down into bite size topics in every department that are easy to comprehend as well as easy to explain to others. The moment they have understand the information, they will be able to convert the said information to their own language and applied it to their respective department or agencies where they belong.  In that way, all employees will be in the same page focusing on the same goal and objective since they were be able to comprehend and apprehend the company’s direction. Another good example is in the classroom, I know a lot of teachers or mentors who are really well known in their fields and even published research and articles; however they are not good in teaching and sharing their ideas to others. They are in the situation where they fully understand something yet they cannot convey it effectively to the students.  We all have different kind of mentors, and however, we can’t forget those mentors who taught us the lesson in the simplest way in which every one of the students able to understand the topic well without suffering from headaches and nosebleeds specially if we talk about science and mathematics. And, it is here where communication comes to play. Without good communication, fully understanding the topic is useless if we can’t convey it to others and let them understands. In short, the simpler, the better. Why? Because, we don’t need to memorize and remember everything once we fully grasp the main idea of the subject. And in that way, we will be able to appreciate and love the topic more. It sparks interest that we love to share it with others. Have you noticed that?

Communication is more effective if everyone on both sides understands fully well what each other are trying to share. You can’t use different language to people who only understands their own language. If you force them, different meanings may come up which will result to confusions. That is why, some may say it is best to use “laymen term” in communicating with others.


Resources:
https://www.quora.com/Einstein-once-said-If-you-cant-explain-it-to-a-six-year-old-you-dont-understand-it-yourself-So-can-you-explain-exactly-how-a-car-works-From-the-key-turn-creating-a-spark-and-so-on 
https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/8742/did-einstein-say-if-you-cant-explain-it-simply-you-dont-understand-it-well-en