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How to Collaborate with Developers Without Getting Lost in Jargon

How to Collaborate with Developers Without Getting Lost in Jargon

Posted at Jul. 23, 2025

Working with developers can feel like learning a new language — one full of acronyms, technical phrases, and concepts that aren’t always easy to grasp. If you're a business owner, designer, marketer, or project manager, you might’ve found yourself lost in conversations filled with “APIs,” “refactoring,” and “sprints.”

But here’s the truth: you don’t need to become a developer to collaborate effectively with one. You just need the right approach, mindset, and a few communication hacks. This guide will show you how.

1. Why the Communication Gap Happens

The developer’s job is to think in systems and logic. Your job (likely) is to think in terms of goals, customers, and outcomes. The challenge? You’re speaking two different professional languages.

If these gaps aren’t addressed early, they lead to:

  • Delays in timelines

  • Misaligned expectations

  • Features that don’t work as intended

  • Frustrated teams on both sides

2. Learn the Basics — But Only What Matters

You don’t need to become a technical expert. Just learn enough to ask smarter questions and understand the answers.

Here are a few concepts worth learning:

  • Frontend vs. Backend: Frontend is what users see; backend is what powers it.

  • API: A way for software systems to talk to each other.

  • CMS: A tool that helps you manage content without touching code.

  • DevOps: The process that ensures smooth deployment of updates.

Pro Tip: Use analogies. If building a website is like building a house, the frontend is the interior design, while the backend is the plumbing and electricity.

3. Set Clear Expectations from Day One

Instead of saying, “Make this more modern,” say:

  • What you want users to feel

  • What problem you're trying to solve

  • What success looks like

The more specific you are, the fewer revisions and misunderstandings later.

4. Use Visuals — Not Just Words

If you're not sure how to describe what you want, show it:

  • Sketch your idea on paper.

  • Use tools like Figma, Canva, or Miro.

  • Record a screen walkthrough using Loom.

Developers think visually too — and seeing your idea makes it easier to bring it to life.

5. Ask Questions — It’s Part of the Process

Don’t be afraid to ask:

  • “Can you walk me through how that works?”

  • “Is there a simpler option?”

  • “What would you recommend instead?”

Asking questions doesn’t make you look unprepared. It makes you look engaged.

6. Manage Outcomes, Not Code

Your job isn’t to tell the developer how to build a feature — it’s to describe what the feature should do and why it matters.

Instead of:
"Can you add this widget to the sidebar and make it call the API in the footer?"
Try:
"I want users to easily subscribe without scrolling — is there a way to add that functionality higher up on the page?"

Let your developer propose the best solution.

7. Bonus Tip: Build a Shared Glossary

If you're working together long-term, create a glossary of commonly used terms and tools. This helps both sides get aligned faster and ensures everyone speaks the same language.

Conclusion

You don’t need to speak fluent tech to work with developers — you just need clarity, curiosity, and a willingness to collaborate. When both sides bring their strengths to the table, the results are smarter, faster, and more aligned with your business goals.

✅ TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read)

  • Learn the basics: frontend, backend, APIs, CMS.

  • Use visual aids instead of just explaining.

  • Ask clear questions — don’t fear looking “non-technical.”

  • Focus on goals and user outcomes, not how it’s built.

  • Build shared understanding from the start.