Here’s a quick and simple way to develop a strategic plan for any written document. And while it doesn’t require much actual writing, it will help you focus your attention and get a better response to your message.
Take a sheet of paper and divide it into about four equal parts by drawing a horizontal line across the page and a vertical line down the page.
Starting in the upper-left corner, write down the germ of the idea. Take just a few words and describe the basic idea. Don’t elaborate and don’t use any space beyond that square, which will force a certain amount of conciseness. For example, “Try invoicing occasional customers at mid-month and end-of-month, rather than just at month-end.”
Moving to the upper-right corner, concisely explain the ‘what’ and the ‘why’ of the idea. What will I gain by pursuing this idea? For example, “Could improve cash flow and reduce our line of credit cost by 5%.”
Now, go to the bottom-right corner and make notes about the ‘who’ and the ‘how’ involved in implementing the idea. For example, “Sales reps submit billing...