Communication Failures at the Collision Conference

Does the following company description make any sense to you?

Me neither. (How does one manage to put a single term [API] in a single, grammatically incorrect sentence thrice, anyway?)

Does this make any sense to you?

Unfortunately, these types of confusing, jargon-laden company descriptions weren’t exactly rare at the Collision Conference in Las Vegas yesterday. As I walked around, I couldn’t believe how few placards qualified as clear, a point of viewed shared by others.

"Many startups lack a narrative. Focus on that narrative and sell your vision." – @msuster #CollisionConf

— Ross Simmonds (@TheCoolestCool) May 5, 2015

You have to wonder what some of these startup founders are thinking—or whether they’re really thinking at all. A mishmash of ostensibly topical buzzwords does not a compelling vision make. How some of these companies have received considerable funding is beyond me.

While I’m ranting about bad business communication, allow me to present this perhaps the single worst slide I’ve ever seen:

Don’t worry. I couldn’t read most of the words on that slide either, not that I tried really hard. (No audience member should ever have to squint.) Can you spot the other speaker faux pas here?

You should never turn your back on your audience. It’s the acme of unprofessionalism.

Simon Says

It’s obvious to me that most technology professionals have to make considerable strides with their communication skills.

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