Short Report Writing for Your General Manager in Four Steps

Linda Ray reports:
 
“Unlike a formal presentation or a report that includes detailed research and supporting data, a short report typically is used to bring a general manger up to date in a clear and concise manner. Your general manager…will appreciate your ability to communicate succinctly in a short report…Write yourself an outline first to solidify your thoughts and arrange ideas. Jot down the main objective of the report…in order to avoid lengthy introductions and wordy sentences…Start with an opening paragraph to introduce the subject of the report and remind your manager that you're responding to a request for an update or regular review…List the highlights of your findings and conclusions. Use bullet points to break out each separate thought and make the report easier to digest. Alternatively, summarize your findings in a few clear paragraphs where you’ve condensed the highlights and put them into sentences…Place supplementary and supporting data in addendums that are attached to the report instead of including them in the body of the report…Short reports primarily are used for internal communications only and can include company lingo and abbreviations that don’t require extensive explanations. They can be formal or informal…Ask your general manager or a peer who also submits short reports to the general manager what is considered a short report in your company. Your general manager may expect you to deliver the gist of a project in one page, while other GMs are accustomed to short reports that are closer to 10 pages long and include a one-page executive summary.”