At some point, every non-technical founder or manager ends up staring at technical documentation. An API reference. A database schema. A deployment guide. It looks impenetrable. It does not have to be.
What to ignore
Start by identifying what you do not need to understand. In API documentation: the authentication section (your developer handles this), the SDK installation instructions (same), and the low-level endpoint parameters that apply only to edge cases. In architecture documentation: the specific technology choices (which database, which framework) unless you have strong opinions. In deployment guides: the server configuration details. Ignore those layers and the document shrinks dramatically.
What to focus on
In API documentation: the list of things the API can do (the endpoint names and brief descriptions), the data structure it returns (what fields are available), and the pricing or rate limits. In architecture documentation: the data flow (what goes in, what comes out, what gets stored where) and the integration points. In deployment guides: the prerequisites (what needs to exist before this can work) and the estimated time and effort.
The question to ask about everything
"What problem does this solve, and what does it cost?" Apply this to every technical choice your team makes. If your engineer cannot answer this clearly, they either do not know, or the choice is not well-reasoned. Both are useful information.
How to read a technical diagram
Look at what the arrows connect. Arrows represent data flow or control flow — something moves from one box to another. Start at the user or customer (usually on the left or top), follow the arrows, and ask what is happening at each step. You will not understand every box, but you will understand the overall flow.
When to stop reading and start asking
If you have been reading for 15 minutes and cannot summarise what the document is about, stop reading and ask. The best question is: "Can you walk me through this in plain language, focusing on what it means for the project?" A good engineer will be able to answer this in five minutes.