how do you make a technical manual understandable to less technical people

Making a technical manual usable by a less-technical reader is a real skill. Your approach: 1) LEAD WITH THE OUTCOME — start with what they need to DO/decide, not the theory. 2) CUT JARGON or define it on first use — say what the tool does, not the acronym. 3) USE STRUCTURE — short sections, clear steps, visuals (diagrams, screenshots), a 'quick answers' section for common issues. 4) PUT SAFETY/HIGH-RISK STEPS up front and make them impossible to miss. 5) TEST IT — have a non-expert try to follow it and fix where they got stuck (this is gold — you verify your own doc). The one-line frame: 'I write manuals so someone less technical can succeed — I lead with the outcome, cut the jargon, and test it on a non-expert to find where it breaks.' It shows the documentation craftsmanship GPS needs (Lesson 28 for the talking version).