What do you think about analogies? Are they a good idea?
When this question comes, it's often asked by someone who has a penchant for using analogies. Here's what we think:
An analogy can be a terrific shortcut to understanding for an audience. It can transform a complicated idea into something an audience readily comprehends, make the abstract colorful and concrete, and give listeners a memorable way to recall your message.
Not all analogies are created equal, we're sorry to tell you—and even sorrier to experience when we're in the audience.
An analogy, if not well chosen, can confuse, distract from your point, or even annoy the people you’re trying to engage.
Let's look at the difference in an analogy that's helping your audience and one that falls flat.
What is an analogy, anyway?
An analogy is, simply, a comparison. It explains something unfamiliar by comparing it to something familiar, with the goal of helping people understand quickly by connecting what's unknown to what's known.
You may hear people call a story an "analogy" when the story is used to illustrate an idea. That's not exactly wrong, but here's a way to think about the distinction:
A story: When I was learning to ride a bike, I fell several times before I learned to get my balance.
An analogy: Using AI for our team may be like learning to ride a bike. We might wobble a few times as we find our balance.
Strive for comparisons that connect
Don't assume everyone shares your references. An analogy that works brilliantly for one audience may fall flat with another. For example, comparing teamwork to a football team might resonate with sports fans but leave others unmoved or confused.
Consider your audience's background, culture, profession, and experiences. When in doubt, choose a familiar, broadly accessible example. Your goal is to build a bridge to your listeners, not remind them of what they don't know.
Keep comparisons simple and relevant
A good analogy illuminates your message without requiring a lengthy explanation. If you find yourself spending more time explaining the comparison than the concept itself, it's probably too complicated.
For example, describing a new business strategy as a road map, while not terribly original, can communicate direction, milestones, and the need to adjust when circumstances change. The comparison supports the message without taking it over.
An analogy that looks good on paper may sound awkward when said. Read it out loud, check that the comparison makes sense, and ask someone unfamiliar with your topic whether it clarifies your point.
Avoid stretching an analogy too far
No analogy is perfect. A business may resemble a sports team in some ways, but employees aren't players who can simply be substituted whenever a strategy changes. Pushing a comparison beyond its useful limits can weaken your case.
Use the analogy to clarify a specific point, then move on. Remember: you're illustrating an idea, not proving that two things are identical.
Make it vivid and memorable
The strongest analogies create a mental picture. Instead of saying, "Change can be difficult," you might say, "Change is like learning to ride a bicycle: at first, every wobble feels like a disaster, but eventually, balance becomes second nature."
A vivid comparison gives listeners something they can see, feel, and remember. Whenever possible, choose concrete images over abstract descriptions.
Don't mix your metaphors
If your project is a journey, don't also describe it as a basketball team that needs a new playbook before sailing into the sunset. Too many competing comparisons create mental clutter—and make you sound sloppy.
Audiences can be mystified (or maybe amused) when we "open new doors and walk through those windows," so choose one strong analogy and develop it.
Resist gratuitous analogizing
Do we gain anything when you compare how we work in the office with how you and your spouse conduct your marriage? Perhaps. Or are you adding a flourish that's 1) a bit overused, 2) not necessarily relatable, and 3) over-explaining a concept that's fairly easy to grasp?
The best analogies are relevant, accessible, and brief--with bonus points if they can be all that AND a bit fresh.
Most important, they help audiences understand your message rather than compete with it. They don't lengthen your presentation with information that doesn't help. They, instead, lighten the audience's mental load.
Before including an analogy in your next speech, ask yourself one simple question: Does this comparison make my point clearer, or am I just trying to sound clever?
If it clarifies, keep it. If it distracts or pads your presentation, cut it. Your audience will thank you.
LEARN MORE
Analogies are one way we can make messages more accessible. Find more tips and techniques here.
Albert Einstein famously said "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough." See how our professional mindset sometimes gets in the way of both.
Potato, Po-tah-to. This rhetorical device is pronounced almost like analogy, but it's a different technique for a different effect. Learn how to properly deploy enallage here.
