In a recent SuperVision post, we looked at
hidden messages in your e-mails. Around the time I was working on it, I received an e-mail from
Bill Mitchell, who heads up our online operations at Poynter. It was a memo to everyone at the Institute about an update of our style guide. Since I was focused on quality e-mail communication, I read it not only for its content, but also to assess its effectiveness. Bill's message struck me as an example of that rare species: the short, sweet, successful memo:
Here it is:
Every now and then, it does the soul good (or is it well?) to review the rules of the road. Our new copy editor (the search is making progress) will lead a revision of the document you'll find at
www.poynter.org/styleguide. But in the meantime, if you're wondering whether to lie out in the sun or lay there, please consult it. (Common usage suggests many people may be surprised by this one; it's the first entry under L.)
If you find any of its provisions confusing -- or conflicting with common sense or precision of meaning -- please let me know and I'll start a list of possible revisions.
So why do I like it? It meets some key standards for good memos:
- Tone: It fits the topic; sounds collegial and upbeat.
- Authority: It may be friendly, but you still sense Bill's in charge and knows his stuff.
- Efficiency: It's short and sweet.
- Audience savviness: He knows his audience and anticipates questions or challenges.
- Open door: He invites feedback and already has a plan to deal with it.
Bill was a bit surprised when I asked him to do a video interview with me about his memo technique and philosophy. It's just a common memo -- right? What's the big deal? Check the video to learn how communication drives collaboration:
