And one where your audience (that busy exec) won’t be too busy to actually read it. One where the author is forced to be both compelling and concise. While I agree with Jeff’s philosophy, I’m going to take it one step further and make the case for confining yourself to a one-page memo. His rationale is compelling when making the case for memos over slides: “the narrative structure of a good memo forces better thought and better understanding of what's more important.” Memos have come in and out of fashion but were (somewhat) recently re-popularized by Jeff Bezos’ 2004 mandate that all Amazon employees had to write a 4+ page memo before presenting to executives.

The simple, repeatable, and limited structure of a memo lends itself well to a tight, uncomplicated storyline. They haven’t yet gone extinct because they’re based on a simple human truth: We’re wired to communicate through narrative but we’re up against an ever-shortening attention span. “Memo” is short for memorandum, and these bad boys have basically been around since dinosaurs (the Smithsonian has one from 1849). Lead the group to a clear outcome (usually an approval). But I’ve been using one-page memos for years (decades!) as a secret weapon to help me:Įngage my audience (peers, leaders, or execs), and These days, there’s a strong preference for slides in the workplace. They’re still used by savvy strategists - at both Fortune 500’s and Series A startups - as a way to quickly and comprehensively cover complex topics, build consensus, and drive action. But I have news for the haters out there: Memos haven’t gone the way of the cubicle. What comes to mind when you hear the word “memo”? Is it Gary Cole’s obnoxious prodding about TPS reports in Office Space? Or maybe for my elder millennial peers out there, it’s Melanie Griffith typing away on a real-life 80’s typewriter in Working Girl?ĭespite fond memories of your favorite office comedies of yesteryear, when I bring up the topic of memos it's usually met with an eye roll and a scramble to change the subject.

Ms word 2010 memo template