KISS

KISS Method: "Keep is simple, sweetie."

This is an old adage that is used in Business Communications courses! (Many professors who are not as kind as I am actually say something instead of sweetie!)

Your assignment for most of my business courses is to write an Executive Summary of one to two pages. This means that a part of the assignment is to decide what is most important. You need to include enough information to completely convey the message needed, but not too many details.

As you read and research, you will come across some very interesting information. Before you include it in the paper, ask yourself if it adds value to the overall impression your summary will make. If not, don't include it. If so, summarize it in your own words.

Remember that business people are just like you. A professional business person has these endearing qualities:

She is busy.

He is in a hurry.
He doesn't have time to read long, boring paragraphs full of details that he doesn't need or want to know.
She will lose interest and quit reading after about the fifth line in a paragraph.
She will never get to a second page of a letter because she fell asleep after the fourth paragraph on the first page.

Get the picture? Keep typed paragraphs short and to the point. Use simple sentences with simple punctuation and structure. If your sentence is long and has multiple clauses, it will confuse the reader. If your reader is confused, it's over.

Practice using bullet statements. Any time you have a list of 3 or more issues, use a numbered list or bullet statements. Be careful to use consistent punctuation on each statement. If you use a "lead-in" sentence, it should be the opening to the bullets that will complete the sentence mechanically.

Example:

WRONG:
- Companies who advertise on television should:
  - Consider using celebrities as spokespeople. (This one works since it completes the sentence begun in the "lead-in.")
  - It's a good idea to use a jingle so that people will remember the ad. (This one DOESN'T work because it is a complete sentence by itself.)
  - Having a logo is a good idea. (This one doesn't work because it isn't consistent with either of the other two bullets.)
RIGHT:
- Companies who advertise on television should:
  - Consider using celebrities as spokespeople.
  - Try creating a jingle that will be easy for viewers to remember.
  - Create a logo that viewers will always associate with the product being advertised.

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KISS Method: "Keep is simple, sweetie."