How to make an executive summary template.
Sharing important info with stakeholders is even easier with a smart summary template.
Your executive summary has to do a lot of heavy lifting. It has to get all your high-level stakeholders up to speed, plus give them the information they need to succeed in just a page or two. This is where an executive summary template comes in handy.
Templates give your summaries structure, and they can save you some time in the long run, too. So, the next time you’re writing one, take a couple of minutes to follow these steps and create your own executive summary template.
What is a template for an executive summary used for?
A template for an executive summary serves as a valuable tool for summarizing complex business reports, proposals, or plans into concise and impactful summaries. It provides a structured framework that ensures consistency and clarity in presenting key information to decision-makers and stakeholders.
By using a template, individuals and organizations can save time and effort by streamlining the process of creating executive summaries, enabling them to focus more on the content and strategic aspects. Templates also contribute to maintaining a professional and cohesive visual identity across different summaries, enhancing readability and facilitating easier comprehension. Having a standardized format promotes effective communication, allowing busy executives to grasp the main points quickly and make informed decisions.
Key components of an executive summary template.
An effective executive summary template consists of several key elements that are essential for summarizing complex business reports, proposals, or plans.
- Introduction. The executive summary should begin with a brief introduction that captures the reader’s attention and provides context for the document.
- Objective. Clearly state the purpose or objective of the document, outlining what it aims to achieve or the problem it seeks to address.
- Summary of findings. Present the main findings, key points, or recommendations from the full report or proposal. Summarize the most important information concisely and highlight any significant insights or conclusions.
- Scope. Briefly describe the scope of the project or research and outline the methodology used to gather and analyze data. This helps provide transparency and credibility to the summary.
- Market analysis. Provide a concise overview of the market or industry context, highlighting trends, challenges, and opportunities that are relevant to the document.
- Key metrics. Include any important metrics, statistics, or performance indicators that support the findings or conclusions of the document. This helps quantify the impact and provides a basis for decision-making.
- Recommendations. Outline specific recommendations or proposed actions based on the findings. These should be actionable and tied directly to the objectives or purpose of the document.
- Conclusion. Summarize the main points and restate the significance of the findings or recommendations. This reinforces the key takeaways for the reader.
By incorporating these elements into an executive summary template, professionals can ensure consistency, clarity, and impactful communication of vital information to decision-makers and stakeholders.
Create an outline format for an executive summary.
The first step to creating an effective executive summary outline is thinking about when you’ll use it. For example, the information you include on a business case summary is different from what you’d put on a market survey summary.
Start drafting an outline of what you usually include in your executive summaries. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- State a problem.
Begin by clearly articulating the problem or challenge that the report, proposal, or plan aims to address. Provide a concise and compelling statement that highlights the core issue at hand.
- Recommend solutions.
Present well-thought-out solutions or recommendations that address the identified problem. These recommendations should be practical, actionable, and directly tied to the objectives of the document. Consider providing a brief overview of each recommended solution.
- Outline potential risks.
Identify and outline any potential risks or challenges that may arise when implementing the recommended solutions. This demonstrates a proactive approach and shows that potential obstacles have been considered.
Play around with your template until it has a structure that meets your or your business’s specific needs. After creating an executive summary template, learn how to write an executive summary that’s effective.
Save an executive summary template as a PDF.
When you complete your draft, save it to your template. Additionally, you should save your executive summary template in a few different file formats, including PDF, because it’s easy to share and sign PDFs electronically.
Also, store your templates in a place you frequently visit, like your computer desktop or the cloud. This way, your templates will always be on hand and ready to go.
Discover how Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Acrobat online services can help you make easy-to-use templates that will keep your business moving.
