Submitted by engineer76 on
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Does Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF) apply to a Board of Directors who are not technical experts on the material being presented? Does BLUF apply to board members we only see once a month? Does BLUF apply when presenting negative news to a Board?
My boss does the majority of speaking at our Board meetings. I only present factual info to the Board. My boss presents recommendations and topics where discussion and debate are warranted. I present info like "the sun is bright" and my boss will then say "so we recommend buying sunglasses for the staff."
In my most recent powerpoint I had a BLUF-type slide, but was told to remove it because it was too harsh and a negative topic. I was told "we need to ease into this with a story." They need a different introduction to this overrun. I was surprised, but complied with the direction given to me by my boss. She liked it and we published. We haven't presented yet, but the Board has the non-BLUF slides. I am going to do whatever my boss asks, but I am confused.
I like BLUF, but ... Does BLUF not apply because we only interact with the Board once a month. Does BLUF work with my boss and not the Board because my boss and I interact on a more frequent basis than my boss does with the Board?
Is this related to bad news versus good news? I don't believe so - when I can tell one of my directs in "sliding" into bad news, I usually jump to a question like, "how much more money do you need or what is your schedule status?"
What are you thoughts on this non-use of BLUF???
BLUF is a technique
I see BLUF as a technique that is effective and appropriate in certain situations with certain people. Like many techniques, it is ineffective and inappropriate in other situations. If you speak BLUF to everyone all the time, likely some people are going to perceive you as rude. You need to know your audience. You are trying to be persuasive. Is BLUF a persuasive communication technique for the members of your board? It sounds like it is not.
BLUF is never bad. But defer to your boss.
I have found bery few (if any) situations where BLUF would be inappropriate. You can have a bottom line and not make it sound harsh. I would think a BofD would want to have an efficient use of their time and therefore would want to know what's coming at them as quickly as possible. It may be that your boss is not comfortable using BLUF with them - doesn't mean it wouldn't be the right thing to do.
You are absolutely doing the right thing defering to your boss but if you are ever the decider I'd lean toward BLUF every time.