Executive summaries help busy readers quickly grasp the key points of a report or proposal. They give a snapshot of the main ideas without having to read the whole document. A good executive summary tells readers why they should care and what you want them to do. Writing an effective summary takes practice. But with the right template and examples, you can create summaries that get results. This article will show you how to write summaries that make an impact and get your ideas noticed.

Elements of an Effective Executive Summary

An executive summary needs key parts to be useful. Let’s look at what you should include.

1. Start with your objectives. Tell readers what you want to achieve. This helps them understand your goals right away.
2. Share your main findings. Pick the most important facts and data from your full report. Don’t overwhelm with details – just the highlights.
3. Tell readers what actions you think they should take based on your findings.
4. Keep it short and sweet. Aim for one or two pages at most. You want busy executives to read the whole thing.
5. Avoid jargon and complex terms. Write like you’re explaining things to a friend.
6. Include visuals if they help. A chart or graph can make data easier to grasp quickly.
7. End with a brief conclusion. Sum up your main points and the value of your work.

Tailor your summary to your audience. Think about what they care about most and focus on that.

Executive Summary Templates

Executive Summary Template #1

1. Introduction
– Brief Overview of the Company
– Purpose of the Document

2. Problem Statement
– Description of the Problem or Opportunity
– Impact on the Business

3. Proposed Solution
– Summary of the Solution
– Key Benefits

4. Objectives
– Specific Goals to be Achieved
– Metrics for Success

5. Financial Overview
– Budget
– Expected ROI

6. Conclusion
– Summary of Key Points
– Call to Action

Executive Summary Example #1

1. Introduction
– Brief Overview of the Company: ABC Corp is a leading provider of tech solutions.
– Purpose of the Document: To outline a new customer relationship management (CRM) system.

2. Problem Statement
– Description of the Problem or Opportunity: Current CRM system is outdated and inefficient. (Note: In a real summary, you may want to elaborate on specific issues, challenges, and their impact on the organization.)
– Impact on the Business: Reduced customer satisfaction and lost sales opportunities. (Note: Consider including detailed findings from research or analysis, as well as any relevant data or statistics.)

3. Proposed Solution
– Summary of the Solution: Implement a new, cloud-based CRM system.
– Key Benefits: Improved customer interaction, increased sales, and better data analytics.

4. Objectives
– Specific Goals to be Achieved: Increase customer satisfaction by 20%, boost sales by 15%.
– Metrics for Success: Customer feedback scores, sales figures.

5. Financial Overview
– Budget: $500,000
– Expected ROI: 25% within the first year.

6. Conclusion
– Summary of Key Points: New CRM system will solve current inefficiencies and boost sales.
– Call to Action: Approve the budget and initiate the project.

Executive Summary Template #2

1. Introduction
– Brief Overview of the Situation
– Importance of Addressing the Issue

2. Problem
– Detailed Description of the Problem
– Evidence and Data Supporting the Problem

3. Solution
– Proposed Solution
– Steps to Implement the Solution

4. Benefits
– Advantages of the Proposed Solution
– Long-term Impact

5. Challenges
– Potential Obstacles
– Mitigation Strategies

6. Conclusion
– Summary of the Problem and Solution
– Next Steps

Executive Summary Example #2

1. Introduction
– Brief Overview of the Situation: ABC Corp is facing declining customer satisfaction.
– Importance of Addressing the Issue: Essential for maintaining market competitiveness.

2. Problem
– Detailed Description of the Problem: Long response times to customer inquiries. (Note: In a real summary, you may want to elaborate on specific issues, challenges, and their impact on the organization.)
– Evidence and Data Supporting the Problem: Customer satisfaction surveys show a 30% decline. (Note: Consider including detailed findings from research or analysis, as well as any relevant data or statistics.)

3. Solution
– Proposed Solution: Implement a new customer support system.
– Steps to Implement the Solution: Select a vendor, train staff, roll out the system. (Note: In a real summary, you may want to provide a more comprehensive breakdown of each phase, including key activities, milestones, and responsible parties.)

4. Benefits
– Advantages of the Proposed Solution: Faster response times, improved customer satisfaction.
– Long-term Impact: Increased customer loyalty and higher sales.

5. Challenges
– Potential Obstacles: Resistance to change among staff.
– Mitigation Strategies: Comprehensive training programs and incentives.

6. Conclusion
– Summary of the Problem and Solution: New system will address current inefficiencies.
– Next Steps: Approve budget and start vendor selection process.

Project Proposal Template

1. Introduction
– Project Title
– Brief Overview
– Objectives

2. Background
– Context and Need for the Project
– Previous Work or Research

3. Project Description
– Detailed Project Plan
– Scope and Deliverables
– Timeline

4. Resources
– Budget
– Personnel
– Equipment and Materials

5. Risk Management
– Potential Risks
– Mitigation Strategies

6. Conclusion
– Summary of the Proposal
– Call to Action

Project Proposal Example

1. Introduction
– Project Title: New Website Development
– Brief Overview: Develop a new, user-friendly website for ABC Corp.
– Objectives: Improve user experience, increase online sales.

2. Background
– Context and Need for the Project: Current website is outdated and not mobile-friendly. (Note: In a real proposal, you may want to elaborate on specific issues with the current website, user pain points, and the impact on business performance.)
– Previous Work or Research: User feedback and competitor analysis. (Note: Consider including detailed findings from the feedback and analysis, as well as any relevant data or statistics.)

3. Project Description
– Detailed Project Plan: Design, development, testing, and launch phases. (Note: In a real proposal, you may want to provide a more comprehensive breakdown of each phase, including key activities, milestones, and responsible parties.)
– Scope and Deliverables: New website, user training, and maintenance plan. (Note: Specify the features and functionalities of the new website, the format and content of the user training, and the details of the maintenance plan.)
– Timeline: 6 months. (Note: Include a more detailed timeline with specific dates, deadlines, and any potential dependencies or risks.)

4. Resources
– Budget: $200,000
– Personnel: Project manager, developers, designers.
– Equipment and Materials: Development tools, hosting services.

5. Risk Management
– Potential Risks: Delays in development, budget overruns.
– Mitigation Strategies: Regular progress reviews, contingency budget.

6. Conclusion
– Summary of the Proposal: New website will address current issues and boost sales.
– Call to Action: Approve the project plan and allocate the budget.

Closing Strong

A strong closing in your executive summary leaves a lasting impression and drives action. Let’s look at effective ways to wrap up and motivate your readers.

Summarizing Key Points

Examples:

• “To recap, our key findings show…”
• “The three main benefits of this proposal are…”
• “Our analysis reveals significant opportunities in…”
• “The core strengths of our team include…”
• “This project addresses critical needs by…”
• “Our recommendations focus on…”
• “The expected return on investment is…”
• “Key milestones for the next quarter include…”
• “Our funding request will enable us to…”
• “In light of these findings, we suggest…”

Call to Action

Examples:

• “We invite you to review the full proposal and provide feedback by…”
• “Please schedule a meeting with our team to discuss implementation…”
• “We recommend moving forward with phase one of the project…”
• “Your approval is needed to begin the hiring process for…”
• “We ask for your support in securing the necessary funding…”
• “Join us for a demonstration of the new system on…”
• “We look forward to your decision on the proposed merger by…”
• “Please share this report with key stakeholders in your department…”
• “We request your signature on the attached agreement to proceed…”
• “Mark your calendar for our next quarterly review on…”

Make your call to action specific and time-bound: this creates a sense of urgency and gives readers a clear path forward.