This was the first week back at my desk after two weeks proper break. Soooo good! I hadn’t realised how long it was since I have downed tools for more than a few days at a time.

And, working with a group of super smart tech product managers is always a good place to start.

Here was one of the thoughts that emerged in our first workshop together, which focuses on communication strategy.

To say that the goal of a board paper is to ‘gain alignment around the proposed strategy’ is no way specific enough.

We need to dig much more deeply to fully understand three things:

1. Who specifically in the room will hold the most sway over the decision we need
2. What their objections to that decision might be … and why?
3. How do we draft a message that is so insightful, so interesting, that they can see, touch and feel the recommendation in play already?

Don’t allow yourself to accept ‘gain agreement on the strategy’ as your purpose.

Authors of powerful board reports are much, much more specific in their ‘ask’.  

I hope that helps. More next week.

Kind regards,
Davina

PS – Check out my new How to Write Powerful Board Reports Handbook.