Draft
Brief
Draft a leadership message on a difficult topic
Give it the facts, the decisions, and what cannot be said yet; get a calm, human message and the questions it will trigger.
The prompt
Draft a message from [leader’s name and title] about [the difficult topic, e.g., a restructure, a missed target, a leadership departure].
Context: what has happened: [facts]. What has been decided: [list]. What is still undecided: [list]. What we can’t discuss yet, and why: [list]. When people will hear more: [date].
Audience: all employees, many of whom will be anxious and will read this on a phone within minutes of it arriving.
Tone: human, direct, and calm; own the decision; no euphemisms, no corporate passive voice.
Must include:
– The news in the first two sentences
– Why, in plain language, including the trade-off leadership weighed
– What it means for people, honestly, including for those most affected
– What happens next, with dates
– Where to bring questions, and a commitment to a follow-up
Constraints: under 350 words; no exclamation marks; no phrases like “exciting opportunity” or “right-sizing”.
Output: subject line and the message body. Then list the questions this message will trigger that it does not answer, so leadership can prepare.
Works in
Any AI toolHow to use
Fill in "what we can’t discuss yet, and why" honestly — it is what stops the AI from inventing reassurance.
The prompt
Draft a message from [leader’s name and title] about [the difficult topic, e.g., a restructure, a missed target, a leadership departure].
Context: what has happened: [facts]. What has been decided: [list]. What is still undecided: [list]. What we can’t discuss yet, and why: [list]. When people will hear more: [date].
Audience: all employees, many of whom will be anxious and will read this on a phone within minutes of it arriving.
Tone: human, direct, and calm; own the decision; no euphemisms, no corporate passive voice.
Must include:
– The news in the first two sentences
– Why, in plain language, including the trade-off leadership weighed
– What it means for people, honestly, including for those most affected
– What happens next, with dates
– Where to bring questions, and a commitment to a follow-up
Constraints: under 350 words; no exclamation marks; no phrases like “exciting opportunity” or “right-sizing”.
Output: subject line and the message body. Then list the questions this message will trigger that it does not answer, so leadership can prepare.
