I was delivering my Persuading Up workshop this week and we were talking about persuasive writing. As you know I’m a big fan of clarity, but one participant said her director took it to a new level.
“My communication needs to be delivered in three bullet points.”
😬
That’s impressive. But part of me also hopes that they read on a little further.
It reminded me of an article I recently read from Jenny Wood, author of Wild Courage, who, when working for Google, suggested an email structure that can be read in 30 seconds and makes it “stupid easy for people to say yes or no.”
Her Three Rules for a Readable Email
1. Pull out only the essential info
Cut everything that isn’t needed for the decision.
2. Use scannable bullets
Bullets force clarity and make the message visually digestible.
3. Make it readable in 30 seconds
Your reader should grasp the context, the ask, and the options instantly.
Example: A Readable, Decision-Ready Email
Hi Sarah,
CONTEXT: Customer complaints up 40% due to understaffing
ASK: Approve budget for 2 additional customer service hires
OPTIONS:
- Approve both positions — $120k annual
- Approve 1 hire + contractor — $80k annual
- Decline and maintain current 3-day response times
TIMELINE: Need decision by Friday for January start
Thanks,
Jenny
Why This Works
- The problem is clear
- The decision is explicit
- The options are concrete
- The timeline is unmistakable
No scrolling. No guessing. Just a clean, fast decision.
What are your thoughts? Would you be confident enough to use it?
- Giving birth to a business - September 3, 2026
- Everyday persuasion #4: Social proof in action - August 14, 2026
- The Rules of Attention - July 31, 2026
