Executive Reading Levels

Now here is an interesting issue. I just read this article that talks about the reading level of various self-help and do-it-yourself books for the "busy" business executive. I would add "Who isn't busy?" This one hit a nerve with me.

What is the "real" issue here? Is the problem that authors (including consultant authors) are dumbing down to some less than stellar "executive reading level," or is the problem that the hard-core academic writers are upset that nobody wants to read their convoluted texts? Or is the issue something even more devious. There are other possibilities. Read on.

First of all, is this issue relevant to economic development? I think it is. I hear this issue raised from time to time. Economic developers and their public and private sector leaders working on projects often ask the consultant to simplify, simplify, and then again simplify. As a consultant, I am usually more than willing to oblige. After all, my job is to ensure that people understand complex issues, plan proposals, etc. I am all for effective communication. No problem there.

There are times however, when I must respectfully decline to simplify any further. Why would I do that? Well, believe it or not, people often seek to "impose" clarity where it simply does not exist. And yes, leaders seek at times to edit out differing ideas, any signs of dissention, and all sorts of things from reports because they are unable to work together to achieve a "real" shared understanding and consensus on how to move forward. Sometimes it is easier to ask the consultant to just make it appear on paper that a shared understanding and consensus exist.

Surprised by that? You shouldn't be. It's the art of storytelling and we do a lot of that in economic development. Don't we? Maybe that is why we come so unraveled when a journalist presents an opposing view of an issued consulting report.