How To Create An Effective Analogy – In Four Steps

Simplifying the complex is a necessity in communication.

If you’re caught up in a conversation with a colleague or presenting to a room, there’s an invaluable tool to streamline concepts and make ideas land: analogies.

Analogies are the bridge between confusion and understanding – but more than an intellectual understanding. They offer foundational reasons and new perspetives in a compact packet.

However, even though you may realise why both the technical and non-technical appreciate a relatable analogy – as you’ve read this – you may, like many of my clients, be struggling to come up with one.

You think: “Oh, I’m not creative enough for that.”

I say: “Rubbish. You are.”

I’ve broken down the act of finding and making analogies into a quick four-part process. There’s really no mystery or magic here. It’s a system but one for which you don’t need Zapier, a spreadsheet and six windows open on your laptop.

How To Make An Effective Analogy

To build one:

1. Identify the core quality – e.g. Confusing
2. Name what reflects that quality – e.g. Rubik’s cube
3. Define the emotional impact – e.g. Frustrating
4. (optional) Amplify the emotion – e.g. Blindfolded

Result:

“It’s like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded.”

Suddenly, the abstract becomes concrete – even visceral. You’ve turned confusion into a visual, emotionally evocative experience.

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Analogy Checks

1. Is the analogy familiar to your audience? Use relatable anchors.
2. Is it succinct and imageable? Short beats clever for clarity.
3. Does it add insight or are you using it for the sake of it? If it doesn’t enlighten, cut it.

Make the meaning clear

You might state that a certain skills is akin to a game of chess. Does that imply conflict or strategising.  If a relationship is like a game of chess, adding the reason would remove ambiguity.

For example, “That relationship is like a game of chess because you have to think so carefully before each move.” Not such an exciting analogy but you can see how the trait of careful strategising is isolated.

Worried you’re dumbing it down?

If you’re worried about “dumbing it down”, make their expertise equal. Show that you know they’re an expert in their world, acknowledging their own expertise. For example:

 “You know how this will work commercially. So you understand how this works with the tech, I’ll reframe it like this: [analogy]”.

A well‑chosen analogy hands readers a mental tool they can use again. Make it vivid, respect their expertise, and aim to change how they see the problem.

Your Action

This is an exercise I give in my Advanced Presentation Skills Workshops that helps even the most uninspired create analogies that hit the mark:

1. Define the process or concept that you need to relate;
2. Pinpoint the core quality;
3. Name what reflects that quality;
4. Define the emotional impact;
5. (optional) Amplify the emotion.

Got a favourite analogy that made your client, team or colleagues finally get it? Drop it in the comments.

I support technical specialists with their communication skills. If you or your teams are looking to unlock your communication superpowers to upgrade presentations or daily interactions, contact me here to book a free 15-minute Discovery Call.

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