Explaining Skill
Version: 1.0 Source: Explaining Things Playbook
Structure before technique. Depth before detail. Context before content.
Scope and Boundaries
This skill covers: Producing clear explanations — classifying requests, choosing structure, scaling depth, and applying relatability tools.
This skill does NOT cover: Writing style or tone for marketing copy, formal academic writing, or persuasive sales. It covers the *structure* of persuasion (Situational framework) but not copywriting craft.
Relationship to other skills:
- Works alongside
documentation(which covers *what* to document; this covers *how to explain* it) - Can be applied inside any domain skill when teaching, onboarding, or communicating concepts
North Star
Goal: The listener builds the right mental model on the first pass.
Definition: A good explanation doesn't just deliver information — it orients the listener, builds understanding in sequence, and connects meaning to something they already care about.
Smell: If the listener asks "but wait, what *is* it?" after your explanation, you skipped Context. If they ask "okay, but why should I care?" you skipped Connection. If they ask "how does it actually work?" you rushed Content.
Quick Start
Already know the framework? Start here:
| I want to... | Go to |
|---|---|
| Explain what something is or how it works | Use the Subject framework (default) |
| Explain why something matters, persuade, or help someone decide | Use the Situational framework |
| See Subject worked examples at different depths | references/subject-examples.md |
| See Situational worked examples at different depths | references/situational-examples.md |
| See domain-specific mappings (storytelling, data, consulting, etc.) | references/situational-domains.md |
| Browse Subject techniques by phase | references/subject-tools.md |
| Browse Situational techniques by phase | references/situational-tools.md |
| Compare Short / Medium / Long depth side by side | assets/depth-comparison.md |
| Follow a step-by-step checklist | assets/explanation-checklist.md |
For the full framework, read on.
Execution Order
For every explanation request, follow this order without skipping steps:
- Classify the request (Subject vs Situational)
- Apply the matching 3-phase structure
- Choose depth (Short / Medium / Long)
- Add supporting tools (examples, analogy, reframing) only if they improve clarity
Classification
Subject (Default)
Use when explaining what something is, how it works, how to do something, or why it exists.
The listener needs to understand a thing.
Situational
Use when explaining why something matters, why one approach is better, how to decide, or how to persuade/reframe behavior.
The listener needs to make a decision or change perspective.
Default Behaviors
- Default mode: Subject — unless the listener is clearly deciding, justifying, persuading, or reframing.
- Default structure: Use the full 3-phase framework. Do not skip Context.
- Default clarity move: If confusion appears, step backward one phase and rebuild the mental model before continuing. Do not add more detail forward — rewind to the missing phase (usually Context), re-establish the model, then continue.
Subject Framework
Use a 3-phase structure. Support explanations with relatability tools when helpful.
Phase 1: Context — Anchor Understanding
Orient the listener. Establish what the thing is, where it fits, and why it exists. Assume no prior knowledge.
Begin with the "what" and "why care." You're orienting, not persuading. Give the simplest possible definition or overview and make it relatable.
Phase 2: Content — Show How It Works
Explain how it works or how to do it. Be concrete, semantic, and example-driven. Avoid abstraction unless necessary.
Break the subject down visually or logically. Use analogy, sequence, or demonstration to make it tangible.
Phase 3: Connection — Translate Meaning
Translate meaning. Explain why it matters, when it's useful, or how it changes outcomes.
End with relevance or impact: how it fits into life, why it's useful, or what it reveals about the world.
Full examples at each depth:references/subject-examples.mdTechnique catalog by phase:references/subject-tools.md
Situational Framework
Use a 3-phase structure. Keep explanations semantic, practical, and grounded. Favor concrete mental models over formal definitions.
Phase 1: Establish Context
Frame understanding by giving people orientation, purpose, and relevance before going anywhere else. Explain what's happening, why it matters, and connect it to something the listener values so they're aligned and facing the same direction.
Phase 2: Reveal Problem or Opportunity
Focus attention and emotional gravity by surfacing the gap between the current state and a better one. Expose the tension or unmet potential, spark curiosity or concern, and define what's at stake if nothing changes.
Phase 3: Solve
Provide the answer, idea, or path forward with clarity, proof, and action. Present the key insight, support it with reasoning or evidence, and translate it into concrete next steps so people know what to do and why it works.
Full examples at each depth:references/situational-examples.mdDomain-specific mappings:references/situational-domains.mdTechnique catalog by phase:references/situational-tools.md
Depth Scaling
Depth changes how much of the mental model is exposed, not which structure is used. All three depths use the same 3-phase framework.
Short
Prioritize clarity and definition. One or two sentences per phase. Minimal examples.
- Tone: Crisp and direct — like concise teaching notes.
- Tools: Rare — only brief, functional comparisons ("Think of it like...").
- Best for: Elevator pitch, summary, quick answer, memory cue.
Medium
Explain mechanism and intuition. Expand cause-and-effect. Use one illustrative example.
- Tone: Natural, conversational — reads like how a good teacher talks.
- Tools: Occasional — similes and short analogies for accessibility.
- Best for: Blog section, educational video, presentation voiceover, internal briefing.
Long
Explore nuance, tradeoffs, and deeper insight. Use multiple examples, analogies, or edge cases.
- Tone: Reflective and narrative — reads like a storyteller teaching through insight.
- Tools: Frequent — rich metaphors, analogies, and anecdotes for flow and memorability.
- Best for: Long-form article, keynote, essay, documentary narration, deep-dive workshop.
Full comparison table: assets/depth-comparison.mdRelatability & Emphasis Tools
Add these only when they improve clarity. Structure carries the explanation; tools enhance it.
| Tool | What It Does | When to Use | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simile | Direct comparison using "like" or "as" | Making an idea vivid and easy to visualize | "Explaining without context is like building a house without a foundation." |
| Metaphor | Implies one thing *is* another | Creating emotional resonance, collapsing distance between ideas | "Context is the foundation of understanding." |
| Analogy | Structured comparison mapping one relationship onto another | Building logical understanding through parallel structure | "Just as a gardener prunes to help plants grow stronger, leaders remove obstacles so teams can thrive." |
| Personification | Gives human qualities to non-human things | Making abstract systems feel alive and empathetic | "Data doesn't lie, but it whispers — you have to listen closely." |
| Example / Anecdote | Short, real-world story or instance | Grounding the abstract in experience, building trust | "When I started composting, I realized waste isn't a problem — it's potential." |
| Parallelism | Similar sentence structure for rhythm | Adding flow and emphasis, great for summaries | "Measure clearly, act quickly, improve continuously." |
Usage by Depth
| Depth | Tool Usage |
|---|---|
| Short | Rare — only brief functional comparisons |
| Medium | Occasional — similes and short analogies |
| Long | Frequent — rich metaphors, analogies, anecdotes |
Quick Reference
Before Every Explanation
- Classified as Subject or Situational
- Using the correct 3-phase structure
- Depth chosen (Short / Medium / Long)
- Context phase is present and sufficient
During the Explanation
- Phase 1 orients the listener before introducing complexity
- Phase 2 is concrete, semantic, and example-driven (not abstract)
- Phase 3 translates meaning back to the listener's world
- Relatability tools support clarity, not replace structure
- No phase is skipped
If Confusion Appears
- Rewinding to the missing phase (usually Context)
- Rebuilding the mental model before continuing forward
- NOT adding more detail in the current phase
Anti-Patterns
| Anti-Pattern | What It Looks Like | Why It Fails |
|---|---|---|
| The Detail Avalanche | Listener is confused, so you add *more* information | Confusion means a phase is missing — more detail buries the gap deeper |
| The Headless Explanation | Jumping straight into Content without Context | The listener has no mental model to hang information on |
| The Dangling Explanation | Context and Content but no Connection | Information delivered but not translated into meaning or relevance |
| The Wrong Lens | Using Subject framework when the listener needs to decide | Subject teaches *what*; Situational addresses *why it matters now* |
| The Technique Show | Every sentence has an analogy, metaphor, and example | Tools are seasoning, not the meal. Structure carries the explanation |
| The Expert Curse | Explaining at *your* depth, not the listener's | Match depth to the audience's starting point, not your knowledge |
| The Flat Explanation | Same depth across all three phases | Context can be short even when Content is long. Scale each phase to its purpose |
References
references/subject-examples.md— Subject worked examples at all three depths (Lean Six Sigma, Gardening)references/subject-tools.md— Subject technique catalog organized by phase (Context, Content, Connection)references/situational-examples.md— Situational worked examples at all three depths (Learning to Cook, Small Teams)references/situational-domains.md— Domain-specific mappings (storytelling, data, consulting, teaching, marketing, leadership)references/situational-tools.md— Situational technique catalog organized by phase (Setting Context, Revealing Problems, Solutions)
Assets
assets/depth-comparison.md— Side-by-side Short / Medium / Long comparison across all dimensionsassets/explanation-checklist.md— Step-by-step execution checklist for producing explanations