Communicate Like a Leader

CHAPTER 29

Let Them See How You Think

If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.

—ALBERT EINSTEIN, INVENTOR AND PHYSICIST, DEVELOPER OF THE THEORY OF RELATIVITY

Writing can be a tough task master. Unlike in a meeting or hallway discussion, you can’t mumble through the process. Writing demands research, analysis, creativity, and organization. Writing forces you to think—that is, unless you plan to write drivel. And most of us recognize drivel when we see it. Also, unlike spoken words that gradually fade in everyone’s memory, a document may last forever in the files.

As you write strategic documents for executive readers, consider these six mind games.

IMAGINE YOURSELF SEEKING CAPITAL FROM A ROOMFUL OF VENTURE CAPITALISTS ...