My boss wants everything in bullet points and I can't think in bullet points.

52 Comments

1. Chre M. Davis, M.S.Ed.October 23,2022 at 7:46AM UTC

   Sounds frustrating.
   Maybe try asking for a debriefing time at the start and end of every day and just verbally tell him? It can be as short as 10 minutes and might be more effective means of communication in this case. Can't hurt to ask.

2. AnonymousOctober 23,2022 at 3:08PM UTC

   Sounds like the boss is really busy if he’s asking for a few bullet points instead of a fully detailed narrative. 10 mins each day because the employee has to do a data dump is unlikely. This is really on the OP to make adjustments.

3. AnonymousOctober 23,2022 at 7:58AM UTC

   Try this online tool: https://www.writeconcise.com/

4. AnonymousOctober 23,2022 at 2:18PM UTC

   Sounds like the manager is busy, possibly has too many employees, or simply cannot afford the time expected to digest the entire situation and provide a way forward as often as you would like.

   Is it possible that there’s another colleague you can consult with to reach conclusions / recommendations without needing the manager to dive in as often?

   Requesting bullets is a way of saying give me the executive summary. Executives don’t have time for all the details and expect their staff to analyze and recommend on their own.

5. AnonymousOctober 23,2022 at 6:18PM UTC

   He is not an "an in writing " communicator. Everyone has their own learning / communication style. I would try not depending on lengthy jammed packed emails as your go-to style.

   I would pick up the phone or kearn to compress emails into 3 ir 4 bullets after a phone call. It doesn't matter that you don't think in bullet points. Your job is to get execute. That means you need approval. So you call, video or in person communicate then follow up if you don't get what you need.

6. AnonymousOctober 23,2022 at 8:44PM UTC

   Do the best you can, but also try to find other communicative ways to communicate. For example, if you are used to delivering info in detail, going forward, still provide the details but at the very beginning have a section called highlights. and list them. And then point to where they are covered in more scope in the email. Also, leverage more time in 5-10 min 1 on 1 with your boss. Initiate the request to cover areas you feel you could not cover in an email. Email does not have to be your only mode of communication. And it is ok to also discuss reminders. Since it is your manager's request, you should try your best to adapt to his style and needs.

7. AnonymousOctober 24,2022 at 4:06AM UTC

   Try the BLUF approach - it’s used in the military for effective communication. Stands for Bottom Line Up Front. My old company taught me this. In your first bullet state perhaps project status: we have completed xyz with abc outstanding and on track to complete by this date. In second bullet add any roadblocks to completion (such as what you outlined above). For instance, “working to resolve xyz issue / element of the project and have tried these steps, none of which produced intended result. Would appreciate a second set of eyes if you can opine”.

8. AnonymousOctober 24,2022 at 10:45AM UTC

   It is so difficult when you need help and people don't listen. I do agree with the post below, bottom line up front, but also find that people have such short attention spans to e mail, they don't read beyond the first line. Can you have a real face to face conversation ?

9. Whitney Osei-AkintajuOctober 24,2022 at 12:50PM UTC

   I think that all he is basically saying to you is that he needs the high level information of what you are asking, not thorough details. So whatever information you want to convey to him, weed out the important things that he needs to know and put it in bullets. This is very common with leaders, manager and other high-level stakeholders. They simply don't have the time or the need to hear every single detail. It's an art and it takes practice to determine what is truly relevant and to whom.

10. Afo Ogbeyalu KaluOctober 24,2022 at 12:54PM UTC

    I suggest incorporating your natural style, with your boss's preference . . . .

    Continue to write your detailed summaries, but type them in block form, and embolden the key take-away from each block/paragraph. That emboldened take-away can serve as your bullet/heading of the block. If the emboldened statement grabs the attention of the reader, that reader should be inclined to read the block for more info/clarification.

11. Shelly EdwardsOctober 24,2022 at 1:46PM UTC

    I've worked with clients like that. I would suggest that you don't give more details than necessary. Don't list the things you've already done. Only list questions or items that he needs to answer. Focus solely on the information you need from him. If he wants more detail, he will ask for it. If you have multiple projects, send one email per project. Keep the email short and to the specific point to be addressed. If you have multiple questions or the list is a little longer, send a request for a brief meeting to review additional details.

12. AnonymousOctober 24,2022 at 4:37PM UTC

    When you list the things...what is the format in which you list them? That's something that can quite easily be converted to bullet points. I'm guessing that what you may be sending to him could be perceived as a wall of text. I assume that because quite often I would do the same. When you send something like that, you will quickly lose the intended recipient. Make each sentence a new bullet point and extract the key points of what you are trying to convey to shorten them up.

    Now...how to reduce to two bullet points? You're on your own there.

13. Kimberly GrahamOctober 24,2022 at 4:58PM UTC

    I think we had the same boss. :-P

14. ConnieOctober 25,2022 at 12:09PM UTC

    I think I am married to him.

15. Jamie B.October 25,2022 at 12:14PM UTC

    ?

16. Jamie B.October 25,2022 at 12:13PM UTC

    ?

17. AnonymousOctober 24,2022 at 5:27PM UTC

    This is a style over substance issue.

    Some folks don't have the time or communication tools to wade through a word salad. You need learn to distill things to powerful statements of content. This is best done after you've actually spoke to the receiver.

    You will struggle in business if you can't read a room and adjust your style of messenging

18. Susan MichaelOctober 24,2022 at 8:28PM UTC

    Think about the 2-3 things you want your boss to take away from the correspondence or you need him to act on. Those are your bullet points and lead with them.

    A tip I like is to write the summarized bullets in way that if read 2 months from now could I quickly recall the problem, action, ask? If so, that is enough information to send.

    Detail out background info and steps already taken in the body of the e-mail (if in bullet points summarize in 5 words there and say more detail below). Good luck!

19. Maria MolinariOctober 25,2022 at 2:30AM UTC

    I can align with this! I’ve learned to compress emails myself.

    My personal advice is make the subject line the main point, EX: [Urgent] Title of issue - What I need from them. This way he knows the email is urgent and the main gist of whats going on.

    In the body ask yourself what’s the most important? what do you need from your boss?

    what I do is put the main points of what I need in bold to start the sentence and have 1a, 1b situations after that to explain further what I’ve already done (to not only express what I’ve done but if he had a moment to read back, he can see that as well.

20. Shelby COctober 25,2022 at 12:16PM UTC

    Professional author here! I write everything out first and then go back and turn it into bullet points. Here is an example:

    1) I can't think in bullet points and need assistance communicating with my boss

    2) He often only reads the Subject line and the first 2 lines of an email

    3) I'll describe a situation I need his help with and list all the things I've already done

    4) He replies with 2-line emails telling me to do one of the things I've already done

    5) Nothing is resolved

    6) Often these are extremely urgent situations and deadlines are approaching

    I hope this helps. I am often too verbose because I like details and a lot of people don't, so they skip over my messages. I have learned that bullet points usually get my point across faster - especially if there is an emergency or pro and con situation.

21. Lisa WilliamsOctober 25,2022 at 12:23PM UTC

    I’m a manager and hate a lot of needless details. I have a wonderful team lead, however, her emails are books! I have to coach her constantly to condense and put it into bullet format. I let her know that especially when communicating with a busy team, that long emails will be skimmed over and balls will be dropped. It’s just human nature.

22. Donna LaPointeOctober 25,2022 at 1:02PM UTC

    I was a manager and my boss was a Vice President in a Sales department. Her boss was a SVP. I got reamed for being too wordy and became the bullet queen. It served me well in that position and future positions.

23. AnonymousOctober 25,2022 at 12:28PM UTC

    You know that he doesn’t read beyond the first two lines of an email. You may think giving context is important or telling him what you have already done. He doesn’t want to hear the whole story. He doesn’t want to wade through a detailed email. Tell him what is needed or what question you need answered and leave it at that.

24. Tamara MillsOctober 25,2022 at 12:32PM UTC

    All you have to do is think in >>actions<<.

    Problem #1: Describe in one sentence.

    *We should....

    *Alternately we could....

    Problem #2: Describe in one sentence

    etc etc.

    Don't put more than three problems in an email. If you need more than that, schedule a meeting or a huddle.

    You're probably more empowered than you realize.

25. Cindy AllenOctober 25,2022 at 1:20PM UTC

    This is good direction. You can always provide more info if asked. When I struggled with this in the past, I have written the large email. Gotten a cup of coffee, and then come back fresh. I then converted the write up into a bullet point format to outline three things in one sentence each: What is the problem or issue, what is the action, decision or direction you need, what action you will take in absence of direction.

    You can then outline details in another paragraph if needed, but recognize that it may not be read.

    That way you have an action outlined to continue progress. I would outline this change in approach to your boss so he is aware. This also shows that you have adjusted to his needs while meeting yours.

    In my experience people don’t change unless they want to and invest the time to do so. You will be more successful if you are able to change in small ways to meet them where they are. It provides you with a new way of approaching things, gives you skills with flexibility, and makes you more valuable in the end.

26. Alyssa BowkerOctober 25,2022 at 12:36PM UTC

    i think people are reading emails on their phones more. So 2 lines seems like a paragraph on a phone screen. Managers need tweets bc they are reading emails on their phone during meetings. Give them the opportunity to ask for more clarification if they need it.

27. AnonymousOctober 25,2022 at 12:36PM UTC

    Write the email in reverse. Go down some spaces in the email and write a pull down tab that says “background” and fill in all your info regarding the background. No more than a paragraph or two statement of facts. When that is done start at the top of the page asking the question you want answered and when you need an answer and if s/he wants specifics they can look at the background below. Execs don’t have time for paragraphs to decipher what you want but put it in a lesser position if they want to know info it is there.

28. AnonymousOctober 25,2022 at 12:36PM UTC

    You don’t think in bullet points but your boss is paid to think beyond the details. Is it that you’re looking for a new solution or that you need him to do something specific to solve your issue? If the latter, tell him what you need him to do. If the former, keep a tracker of common problems and take them to him in a live meeting, not an email. For urgent matters, phrase your request differently. I’ve got customer Q waiting for this product but the system/process is held up by this problem. I’ve tried X, Y, and Z to fix with no success. What do you suggest to resolve?

    Also, if people are waiting for you to complete something or you have a deadline to meet, I would suggest factoring the need for his help into your project timeline. What is urgent to you is not necessarily urgent to someone else.

29. Hold on Lee LouOctober 25,2022 at 12:48PM UTC

    I believe that clear communication is on the onus of the writer/speaker, and you have to speak to your audience. You know how your boss works, so now it is on you to adapt. In work emails, it is important to be concise.

    As a writer, I struggle with leaving out colorful details and descriptions, but it has helped to make use of editing tools - Microsoft Word has a great grammar check. You can start by writing emails in word, running the grammar checker, and copying into an email.

    I also carefully read through an email before sending it, hunting down words or entire sentences that I can eliminate. I try to be ruthless in the editing process - did I write something that is important to me, but only muddies the message?

    If an email goes beyond two short paragraphs, I look for ways to create bullet points. I also use the indent feature in Outlook to push my bullet points in so they stand out more from the rest of the paragraphs.

    With practice, you will find this to be less of a struggle.

    As an example, I'm going to reply to this comment with a more concise, edited version.

30. Hold on Lee LouOctober 25,2022 at 12:50PM UTC

    To communicate effectively, you need to speak to your audience in a concise, clear manner.
    Here are some things that I do:

    Write the email in a Word doc and use the grammar and editing tools, then copy the final version into an email.

    Before hitting send, eliminate anything unnecessary - be ruthless.

    Find the bullet points from your first draft and re-write.

    Continue to practice, and you will make progress.

31. Hold on Lee LouOctober 25,2022 at 12:53PM UTC

    I couldn't actually get the bullet points to stick when I posted, so I hope you get the idea. Basically, before sending, remind yourself that your reader doesn't care about the topic in the same way you do, and your concern is just a small part of their day. Make it easy for them to help you.

    When that doesn't work, respond with a quick request for a phone call: "Do you have time for a quick phone call today?"

32. AnonymousOctober 25,2022 at 1:02PM UTC

    Unpopular opinion-

    You need to accommodate your bosses request and provide bullet points.

    If they want more detail they will follow up with you.

    As a wordy person myself this was a hard adjustment to make but you should meet your boss where they are and not expect them to meet you where you are.

    This is also a skill that you should be cultivating in your daily emails. MOST people are reading on mobile and only read the subject along with 2-4 lines of the email these days.

33. Heather CutlerOctober 25,2022 at 2:20PM UTC

    Spot-on advice!

34. AnonymousOctober 25,2022 at 1:03PM UTC

    Really great suggestions below. Another thing to think about is if it's a more complex issue to describe, it might be worth moving that topic to an in person meeting or a phone call rather than it being over an email. Reserve email for more straightforward updates that you can distill down into the bullet point format that your boss processes best.

35. AnonymousOctober 25,2022 at 1:12PM UTC

    I have this same issue with my new boss. I keep an ongoing list of items to discuss with him and hold them for our weekly 30 minute meeting.

    I try to handle things on my own til I can't get any further. He'd probably appreciate being kept out of the issue. He's not a detail person so you have to learn how to keep him out of the details.

    On the good side, if I want my boss to sign off on a project I'm working on but don't really want him that involved, I just launch into a really long story about it and he's in a hurry to sign off so I'll quit talking about it. :-)

    You just have to figure out how to make his communication style work in your favor.

    A weekly 30 minute meeting could help keep those fires from blazing out of control.

36. Suzette ManduleyOctober 25,2022 at 1:13PM UTC

    It may be helpful to learn the concept of conveying

    "What's the BLUF?" =

    BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT.

    This is a military concept where you get your point across at the very beginning. A few sentences stating what is happening, with ~3 bullet points to support related actions.

    Once the major point has been conveyed, then you can backfill with the details.

    I learned this when working at the Pentagon and have applied it ever since. I work as a PM in the federal contracting space and share this with government agencies - everyone seems to really like and adopt it. Trust me, it will make your life easier.

37. Danielle CooperOctober 26,2022 at 1:40PM UTC

    This and to add - the addition detail for me is usually summarized in the first sentence of each paragraph and then that is bolded. This allows a busy manager to skim over the parts they already understand and only deep dive into the parts where they need more info quickly.

    A manager needs to know right away “what is the ask here” so they pick up the rest of the info accordingly. I have read too many emails where I had to skim to find the ask then go back to the top and try to sort through the detail…if it get an email I can’t skim - those get ready last and maybe never to be honest.

38. AnonymousOctober 25,2022 at 1:37PM UTC

    Maybe write it up like you normally would but instead of sending as is, go through it and take out only the essential and factual information.

    Some people like too add that fluff in there because the sentence sounds more complete, but you have to remember when writing this who your audience is and what you are trying to convey.

    Aside from that managers don’t have that much time to spend on one task alone and have to juggle multiple priorities so it needs to be be concise and to the point.

    For example instead of writing called Company XX at 10 am and talked to Nancy about xyz, she said she’ll provide us with the information by Friday at the latest because she’s working on other deliverables.

    Write this instead. Spoke to Nancy at Company XX she’ll provide us with the information by Friday.

39. Julie AcostaOctober 25,2022 at 1:44PM UTC

    Coming from someone who’s had to outgrow “excess details” in writing, I can relate. There’s always a way to convey the message in a more succinct manner.

    I’m still working on it but here are some suggestions:

    Type the TLDR (too long don’t read) summary at the top of your email. Keep it to Twitter format (280 characters or less) or use bullets.

    Then below, I write “additional (noteworthy) considerations below”.

    Executives do not read long emails. Period. As some have mentioned, you will have to adapt your message to the audience. Some will need more info than others and they will ask for it.

40. GirlBossanova934974October 25,2022 at 2:05PM UTC

    This one is simple. I learned this in my first year of my MBA program. You use a business memo style format. On top, you write 'Executive Summary:'. You describe the problem in 2-3 bullet points. You describe the proposed approaches or solutions in 2-3 bullet points and then your recommendation (if known) in 1 bullet point. After that in the next section of the memo, you lay out all the details. this leaves it up to the reader to read the top part and then go to the 2nd part if they desire to read the details.

41. AnonymousOctober 25,2022 at 2:17PM UTC

    So in reality even though you are going to your boss for a solution - because he doesn't read the whole email you are figuring out the solution on your own anyway? Maybe you don't need to change how you send the emails, but just don't send them at all. Use it as a tool to problem solve since it sounds like you are doing that anyway.

42. KristinOctober 25,2022 at 3:45PM UTC

    I agree but also learning to communicate succinctly is a skill that will help in many other scenarios and jobs so she may as well take this as an opportunity to learn how to do it well.

43. AnonymousOctober 25,2022 at 3:23PM UTC

    You need to lead and come up with a form of communication that works for both of you.

44. Dena B.October 25,2022 at 8:18PM UTC

    I have to agree with this. Try calling him a few times. It might be that a phone call is a better bet. I wouldn't ask if he prefers a call. He might not realize he does. But, try it. I work with a lot of people who are still more phone oriented. They don't' pay attention to an email, but a two-minute phone call solves most problems and gets us to a resolution.

45. AnonymousOctober 26,2022 at 1:47PM UTC

    TBH - a phone call will probably get the same response if the request is still not succinct.

    i have a report who often buries the lead. I know that I won’t be able to use most of the info he says until he gets to the point - it’s just too much info without a reference point- so my thoughts will wander to a problem i already understand. he gets to the punchline then I ask follow up questions that were already answered. It’s a lot of wasted time for both of us and he is working on it, but I have too many things going on to be able to hold that info in my brain until it becomes relevant. And sometimes I find that it wasn’t relevant for what he needed from me.

46. KristinOctober 25,2022 at 4:03PM UTC

    If you were going to pop your head into his office and knew you only had 20 seconds to give him the rundown of the problem, what you've already tried, and what you need help with, what would you say?

    ____________________________________________________________

    "Hey Boss

    I'm having trouble getting XYZ from co-worker. I've tried:

    * Email,

    * Slack, and

    * Carrier pigeons.

    Do you have any suggestions on the best way to get a response from him?"

    __________________________________________________________

    I find that when you're not trying to "write" it, you lose the unnecessary formality that often obscures the message. For example -same problem, standard email explanation style:

    ________________________________________________

    Dear Boss person,

    I have been earnestly trying to communicate a serious need to co-worker who has repeatedly avoided my attempts to find out the latest data for XYZ project. I have attempted to contact him via email many times - first on 10/3, then later in that same week on 10/6 I sent a follow up email that explained the importance of a timely answer and it's impacts on this project. I then sent Slack messages at various times of day to see whether I could catch him for an impromptu conversation to have my questions answered. As you know, this will negatively impact the project timeline and by extension the budget so it is critical that I get a response from him by EOW. I did also reach out by email again on 10/11 but did not hear any thing back. As a last-ditched effort, I sent a carrier pigeon to his house with a not attached to it's foot. The bird returned with the not still attached to it's foot, so clearly he did not receive or read it. What do you suggest as a next course of action to get answers so the project is not delayed?

    Sincerely,

    Me

    _____________________________________________________

    You can see how much easier it is to read and respond to the first version.

    I'm a writer by trade and it's a trick I use for myself - how would I say this to the person's face - not in writing. Start there. You can even say it out loud, I won't laugh! Say it out loud, then write that down. Start there with the high-level. You can backfill details if necessary later in the email, but know that he's not going to read it. You may still want to do that for your own documentation purposes however.

47. AnnetteOctober 25,2022 at 5:24PM UTC

    SO MUCH this.

48. Tami HolzmanOctober 25,2022 at 4:24PM UTC

    Agree with a lot of the other commenters. You don't have to think I'm bullets to turn your narrative into bullets. Give sign posts in the email. Use bold headings or bold text that you need the boss to pay attention to. Try:

    I'm having this issue.

    Resolutions I've attempted

    A

    B

    C

    What I need from you: XYZ by DATE/TIME

49. Guy ShrimptonOctober 25,2022 at 4:42PM UTC

    Exactly this. Imagine you have 10 seconds to ask for help. You don't get into a long explanation, you say what you need and what you've tried. If this boss doesn't read beyond the first lines, they don't need the finery. Just state it.

50. AnnetteOctober 25,2022 at 5:32PM UTC

    It takes more effort and time to write succinct communications, even the greatest writers acknowledge this. You're right, it's less easy than just putting everything down as you think.

    1) Write everything down, or talk it through.

    2) Read what you wrote, and break it down - each thought/step as a bullet

    3) Can you summarize? Do that. Label it.

    4) Can you pull out the actions or questions? Do that. Label it.

    5) Separate the "story" - call that Background, and label it. Polish it, as much as possible, be succinct but clear.

    From a manager, some wise words - try and make it so that:

    • it's easy for your person to say YES if you get it right, or
    • No - change just this part, if your assessment is off.

    Think - if this person was driving, and her passenger was reading the email out loud, how can the reader/passenger respond on the driver's behalf, how can you phrase it so that the response can be done by a non-expert/someone off the street, on behalf of your boss.

    This also shows that you've thought about the subject deeply and thoroughly.

    It's not just your boss that thinks/reads like this. Communicating action items to sales people works better like this. Communicating with a broader audience works like this, especially if there's a mixed level of interest on the topic.

    You can do this - takes practice, but you c an do this.

51. Emily GiddingsOctober 25,2022 at 9:08PM UTC

    I hear you that everything feels urgent. And I've been working in a startup so I know what that feels like. It sounds like the solution would be to learn how to become more concise and respond in bullet points, and I promise that is something you can learn how to do! I know because I'm actively working on it myself. It will pay off in making you come across more professionally in the long run and in other communications too.

52. Kristina BrooksOctober 27,2022 at 3:11PM UTC

    When I have to present 2 sentences because that's all the attention I get. I think back to high school and the intro sentence of paragraphs. If I want to share 4 paragraphs of detail, take each topic, pair them up, list on individual lines and not as 2 running sentences. It isn't easy, practice makes perfect though!