"What gets left out is the narrative between the bullets, which would tell us who's going to do what and how we're going to achieve the generic goals on the list"
About this Quote
Edward Tufte draws attention to the critical omissions that occur when communication is reduced to bullet points or mere lists of objectives. Bulleted outlines often dominate presentations, instructions, and planning documents, yet their brevity can mask deep ambiguity. The “narrative between the bullets” refers to the connective tissue of explanation, reasoning, and storytelling that transforms isolated action items or goals into an actionable roadmap. Bullets state what is to be done, but rarely explain who will act, by what methods, or according to what rationale.
Without these elements, plans can devolve into fuzzy aspirations rather than coordinated efforts. When details such as agency (“who’s going to do what”) and process (“how we’re going to achieve”) are omitted, responsibility becomes diffuse and accountability evaporates. Groups may agree enthusiastically to a slick set of points, but consensus at the level of the abstract often collapses once concrete steps are demanded. Inhibition of meaningful progress emerges because the necessary intersubjective understanding, how participants relate to one another’s roles and actions, is missing.
Furthermore, the absence of narrative reduces opportunities for critical thinking and challenge; ideas are presented without argument, leaving little room to contest assumptions or refine methods. Narrative supplies causal connections and context, encouraging imagination about consequences and difficulties. It humanizes the plan, delineates realistic sequencing, and identifies potential pitfalls. A list of goals is generic, agreeable, and, paradoxically, immobilizing because it offers no friction or difference.
To move from simply having aims to actually achieving them requires a shift from static summaries to shared stories of implementation. Filling the “space between the bullets” with narrative brings nuance, depth, and most importantly, actionability to any collective undertaking. Tufte’s insight is a call to embrace the detail and dialog that transform bland agendas into meaningful, coordinated human work.
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