🗣️ Stop Rambling: Start with the Bottom Line (BLUF Method)
Hello Hello!
I usually bring these topics back to my own experience, but today, I want to talk about a developer I work with. No names, of course.
Every time this person answers a question, they go on and on… and on. After three minutes of talking, they finally stop—expecting the team to have followed everything. But by then, most of us don’t even remember the original question!
That’s when I find myself jumping in with, “So bottom line, you mean…” Or someone else has to ask, “Wait, what are you trying to say?” The long explanation ends up confusing the room instead of clarifying.
Learning how to get to the point quickly—and in a way people can follow—is a communication skill that takes time and intention. It’s even harder when English isn’t your first language, like in my case.
But the good news? You can get better. I’m still improving myself, and I'm old, as per my daughters 🤨.
Let’s talk about how.
Enjoy,
— Aderson
🗣️ Stop Rambling: Start with the Bottom Line (BLUF Method)
Ever answer a question, talk for two minutes straight, and still get asked, “So... what’s your point?”
If you’ve ever seen someone’s eyes glaze over mid-sentence, you’re not alone. Rambling is a common trap—especially for tech professionals who are trying to explain something complex and feel the need to give all the context. But guess what? You don’t need to!
There’s a simple shift that can help: Start with the Bottom Line. That’s the essence of the BLUF method—Bottom Line Up Front.
When you lead with your main point, you show clarity, confidence, and respect for people’s time. Want to be seen as clear, concise, and credible? Start here.
👇 Why You Ramble (And Why It’s Okay)
Let’s be real. Rambling often comes from a good place:
You want to be thorough.
You’re trying to be helpful.
You think the context is critical to understand your point.
But here’s the thing: most people don’t need the full story before they hear your point. They need your point first so they can decide if they care about the rest.
Enter: BLUF.
🧱 What You’ll Learn Today
🔹 Lead with the conclusion
🔹 Give context only if needed
🔹 Practice your BLUF muscle
🔹 Lead with the conclusion
Start with your answer—not your thought process.
If your manager says, “How’s the project going?”, don’t start with, “Well, last week we were testing the integration...”
Instead: “The project is on track. Testing’s complete and we’re moving to deployment tomorrow.”
This helps your listener understand the status immediately—and then, if they want, they’ll ask for details. It’s more engaging, not less.
BLUF is especially powerful in meetings, emails, Slack messages, and stand-ups. It respects people’s time and positions you as someone who can get to the point—a major plus in busy workplaces.
🔹 Give context only if needed
Once you've said the bottom line, then decide if context is useful.
Bad habit:
“We spent 3 days debugging an API call, realized it was a version mismatch, fixed it, tested again, and now it’s working.”
Better:
“The issue is resolved—we identified the root cause and validated the fix.”
Let people pull more info from you, instead of pushing everything at once. Think of it like a sandwich: conclusion first, then the meat, if needed.
🔹 Practice your BLUF muscle
This takes effort at first—but it gets easier fast.
Start practicing in:
Emails: Open with your ask or decision.
Stand-ups: “Yesterday I did X, today I’ll do Y, blocker is Z.”
Meetings: Start your answer with the outcome, then explain if needed.
You’ll be shocked how people start listening more closely. You’ll sound more thoughtful—even if you’re actually saying less.
And here’s a bonus: people start seeing you as someone who is confident and trustworthy—because confident people don’t feel the need to explain themselves right away. They say what matters, then expand.
Final Thoughts
Clarity is a skill—and BLUF is a shortcut to it. Rambling might feel safer, but leading with the bottom line builds trust faster. Speak with impact, and let your details follow, not lead.
“The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do.” — Thomas Jefferson