Do you speak Executive?

Speaking the same language as executives is not as hard as it sometimes may seem. It is actually quite simple. However, many times I have witnessed an executive ask for a proposed solution to a problem and the proposed solution (an attempt at speaking executive) ends up being a myriad of potential solutions riddled with asterisks. From my experience, executives hate asterisks. Those pesky little exceptions to the rule are seen as massive holes in any proposed solution.

"This will work great, except for this, and that, oh and not this, but only that." From where I stand, that is no solution at all.

And if you thought they hated asterisks, just wait until you hit them with If, Then statements in your proposed solution.

"This is our best proposed solution and it will work however, If you look at X, Then you must apply Y, only when Z is in place (insert asterisk here)." Once again, that is no solution at all.

So keep it simple*.  Make things as clear as possible. Solve the problem, don't just lead them to a 100 more new problems.


*Keep it simple does not mean leaving out valuable details - I didn't say it was easy. It is a hard and complicated job to just keep it simple. Good thing they (your executives) have you. You speak their language.