How do you best understand and explain information?

I’ve come to realize that the way I conceptualize things is typically very abstract, so I often have a hard time expressing myself in a concise manner. Although I know on a certain level what I think or feel about something, explaining myself verbally or in writing is difficult unless it’s a topic I’ve addressed before. I tend to ramble, searching for the right phrase. I find I do best with a conversation, talking through a concept with someone. As I hear what they understood from what I said, I’m able to clarify and get closer to the meaning I want. Also, they frequently bring up points that I hadn’t consciously thought of regarding the topic. It helps bring things that I feel/know about something to the surface to be examined and organized in a tangible form. Even now, I feel I’m having a hard time properly explaining myself, lol. The thesaurus is one of my best friends. ;o)

@Mtl zack, one the cool thing I’m finding is that in business, using visual diagramming is becoming more and more prevalent as a processing tool to teach and explain. From Visio process maps, to mindmapping, to compression sessions (which use index cards and a sorting system on a board) to dashboarding. there’s a lot going on in terms of non-verbal communication of information. Even a lot of Six Sigma relies on visual representation of information.

I, too, need to learn visually or spatially, rather than by listening or reading.