Audience, purpose and structure
Organise communication around the reader's decision and information needs.
Covered in this guide
- State the purpose before supporting detail.
- Select evidence for the intended audience.
- Make the requested action, owner and timing explicit.
Useful communication is designed around what the reader must understand or do. Lead with the decision, request or conclusion, then provide the evidence and context needed to act.
Start with what the reader must do
Useful communication is designed around what the reader must understand or do. Lead with the decision, request or conclusion, then provide the evidence and context needed to act.
A report that buried the request
A project update begins with six paragraphs of history before revealing that a regulatory deadline is at risk. The critical information is present, but the structure delays action.
Try this
Rewrite the opening as two sentences for the accountable executive.
Review answer guidance
The regulatory submission is at risk of missing Friday's deadline because two required reviews remain incomplete. Please assign legal review by noon today; the project lead will confirm readiness at 16:00.
How communication items are scored
Lead with the decision or request, then the evidence that reader needs. Extra background after that is optional.