I started my career as an aerospace auditor. My function was to audit defense contracts and compile my findings in report form. These findings were submitted to my new boss. His job was to evaluate the contents of my report and forward it to the Quality Director of the company. The stuff I audited and monitored was extremely technical in nature. Therefore, my communiqués needed to be very technical ... or so I thought.

I was asked to rewrite one of my first reports. I kept rearranging the complicated information, but it was rejected each time I submitted it. I finally asked my new chief what he expected.

He leaned back in his chair and summarized his evaluation steps. “I give the report to the secretary ... I ask her to type it and read it ... when she presents it ... I ask her to explain it to me. If she can’t summarize the information easily, I tell her to give it back to you.”

I was incensed. I worked hard to produce what I thought was a technical masterpiece. How could a secretary possibly understand manufacturing problems and how could my boss compare her expertise to mine? I tried to hide my indignant outrage as I fumbled for words in defense of my enlightened work.

His response was simple and to the point. “Good reports aren’t complicated by technical jargon, or that ends up being the focal point ... rather than concentrating on the core issue ... which must be stated to bring about change. Now, go rewrite the (expletive) report again.”

Humbled, I condensed my multiple page document to a few paragraphs, stated what the problems were and what needed to be done to correct it. This time he approved.

“That’s better!” He declared triumphantly. “Now the problem can be understood by everyone involved. They won’t be overwhelmed by it, throw it in the wastebasket, or come back with their own three page rebuttal that we won’t understand.” He eyed me for a response. Having none, I simply thanked him and left.

I returned to my desk and began to repair my bruised ego. I could teach that gruff old guy a thing or two about technical writing !

Then it hit me. He was teaching me! I was not submitting a novel or writing a research paper. He had instructed me about the KISS theory.

Or, as my silver tongued boss would have put it, “Keep it Simple Stupid!”

John P. Wickern