Your Brilliant Presentation’s Getting Lost In Translation

At a Glance

• Different generations process and respond to information in fundamentally different ways

• The same message can land completely differently depending on your audience's generational lens

• Simple adjustments to language, structure, and references can dramatically improve your communication effectiveness

• You’re about to get that “rizz” 

Hey folks,

Picture this: You're presenting your latest product strategy to a mixed-age leadership team. Your presentation is solid, your data is compelling, and your recommendations are spot-on. Yet half the room looks confused while the other half seems disengaged.

The culprit could be your communication style and how it lands (or doesn’t) with the individual members of your team. 

Each generation has developed distinct communication preferences, shaped by the technology, events, and cultural touchstones of their formative years. Ignore these differences, and even your best ideas can fall flat. The good news is you don’t have to use Google Translator or TikTok to do it right. 

Let's decode how to communicate effectively across generational lines without sounding like you're trying too hard.

– Jeff

The generational communication gap

The same information needs to be packaged differently depending on who's receiving it.

Baby Boomers (born 1946–1964) tend to prefer structured, formal presentations with clear hierarchies and detailed context. They appreciate when you "show your work" and demonstrate respect for established processes.

Gen X (born 1965–1980) wants the bottom line up front. They're skeptical of corporate speak and value efficiency. Get to the point, show them the practical implications, and skip the fluff.

Millennials (born 1981–1996) respond well to collaborative language and want to understand the "why" behind decisions. They appreciate transparency and are comfortable with informal communication styles.

Gen Z (born 1997–2012) expects authenticity, values visual communication, and prefers bite-sized information. They're quick to spot and dismiss anything that feels “fake” or overly corporate.

Messaging that reaches everyone

Instead of crafting different messages for each generation, focus on these universal principles that resonate across age groups:

1. Use active, concrete language. Replace vague business-speak with specific verbs and clear outcomes. Instead of "we'll leverage our core competencies," say "we'll use what we're already good at." 
   

2. Lead with "why" before "what." All generations want context, they just process it differently. Start with the problem you're solving or the opportunity you're pursuing before diving into your solution.
   

3. Show, don't just tell. Whether it's a quick example, a simple visual, or a brief story, concrete illustrations work across all age groups. Abstract concepts need anchors.
   

4. Eliminate unnecessary complexity. If they need a glossary to understand your presentation, you've lost your audience—regardless of their age. Complex ideas can be explained simply.
   

5. Be specific about next steps. Everyone needs to know exactly what happens next, who's responsible, and when things will happen. Vague action items frustrate everyone.

The goal is to combine professional credibility with clarity. You don't need to choose between sounding smart and being understood.

Bridging the communication chasm

When you're communicating across generations, small adjustments in how you frame and deliver information can dramatically improve everyone's experience. It's not about changing your message; it's about making it more accessible.

Translate your expertise into plain language. That technical term you use every day? It might be second nature to you and your Gen X peers, but confusing to others. The detailed context you assume everyone shares? Maybe it’s only familiar to colleagues who took part in Beatlemania. Simple language doesn’t dumb things down; it opens up possibilities.

Structure for different attention spans. Some people want the full story from beginning to end, others want the headline first. Lead with your main point, then provide the supporting details. This lets people choose their own level of depth without losing anyone along the way.

Make abstract concepts concrete. Instead of talking about "digital transformation initiatives," describe what actually changes: "Our sales team will be able to see customer history in real time instead of waiting for reports." Everyone understands the before and after, regardless of their comfort with tech terminology.

Create multiple entry points. Some people learn by hearing, others by seeing, still others by discussing. A quick visual example, a brief story, or an analogy can help the same idea land with different people in different ways.

The authenticity trap

Here's where many leaders go wrong: they try to adopt the slang or communication style of younger team members. Unless you naturally speak that way, it comes across as forced and damages your credibility.

You can still connect with your Gen Z report without calling her “queen”. What she actually needs is genuine, straightforward communication without corporate buzzwords. (And trust me, watching a 55-year-old executive call something "bussin" is not the vibe anyone wants.)

Similarly, you don't need to become overly formal to communicate with Boomers. What they want is respect for their experience and clear, well-organized information. 

The bottom line

Effective cross-generational communication isn't about code-switching or trying to be someone you're not. It's about recognizing that the same message can be received very differently depending on your audience's frame of reference.

The best communicators adapt their delivery style while staying true to their authentic voice. They structure information for clarity, choose words for precision rather than impressiveness, and focus on making their ideas accessible to everyone in the room.

Remember: if your audience isn't getting your message, the problem isn't their comprehension; it's your communication. No cap. 😉

What I’ve Been Up To

I’m very excited to share that Senseandrespond.co is live! Check it out and share your feedback—it’s a work in progress and your insight will make all the difference. 

Storytelling Training Programs: I've been working with several leadership teams on improving their presentation and storytelling skills. It's been fascinating to watch the transformation as teams shift from dense, jargon-heavy slides to concise, impactful presentations and pitches that actually engage their audiences. We have a public version of this class coming up in mid-July. Information about that can be found here. If you're interested in bringing this class in-house to your teams, let me know.

Certified Training Partner Program: We're expanding our Sense & Respond Learning offerings through partnerships with carefully selected and qualified training professionals. With a  lot of great trainers already on board,  we’re growing more deliberately at the moment. We’re looking for more trainers in Asia—specifically Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore—and in Australia and New Zealand. If that’s you, please fill out this form. 

If you're interested in bringing our product management, discovery and OKR curriculum to your clients or organization, fill out this form.

Follow our Sense & Respond Learning LinkedIn page for more resources, including a new series of videos we've been publishing about implementing customer-centric OKRs.

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