How do you craft a compelling executive summary for your annual report?

3 Structure your summary

Your executive summary should be structured in a clear and logical way to guide readers through your main points. A typical structure for an executive summary is to start with an introduction that offers a brief overview of your organization, its purpose, and its scope. Then, present key achievements, challenges, and goals in a logical order with headings, subheadings, or bullet points. Additionally, use transitions, connectors, or signposts to link your points and illustrate the relationships between them. Lastly, conclude with a summary of your main message and restate your value proposition, mission, and vision. You can also include a call to action or recommendation for readers and express gratitude for stakeholders and your organization.

4 Edit and refine your summary

Your executive summary should be concise, clear, and compelling. It should not exceed 10% of the length of your annual report or one or two pages. You should edit and refine your summary to eliminate any errors, redundancies, or inconsistencies. You should also proofread and check your summary for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting. You should ask for feedback from your colleagues, managers, or external experts to ensure that your summary meets the expectations and standards of your audience. You should also test your summary by reading it aloud or asking someone else to read it and summarize it back to you.

5 Use design elements

Your executive summary should not only be well-written, but also well-designed. You should use design elements such as fonts, colors, images, icons, or charts to enhance the readability, attractiveness, and impact of your summary. You should choose design elements that match your organization's brand identity, tone, and style. You should also use design elements that complement and support your content, not distract or contradict it. You should use design elements sparingly and strategically, and follow the principles of consistency, contrast, alignment, and balance.

6 Review and update your summary

Your executive summary should not be a static document that you write once and forget. It should be a dynamic document that you review and update regularly to reflect the changes and developments in your organization and its environment. You should review and update your summary before you publish or distribute your annual report to ensure that it is accurate, relevant, and current. You should also review and update your summary after you receive feedback or results from your annual report to measure its effectiveness, identify its strengths and weaknesses, and improve it for the next year.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?