Day 16: Learning from Patrick Collison

Hi there,

Clear written communication from the CEO is a game-changer in sticky situations.

Here are 3 quick business writing lessons from an internal email written by Patrick Collison, CEO of Stripe.

1. Shorten your sentences.

Shorter sentences are more clear. They're easier to follow. Plus, they can quicken the pace of an argument, making it more engaging.

 

 

2. Use plain language.

Use words that people understand.

This will:

➤ Increase accessibility: Jargon or technical words may alienate people that you're trying to reach

➤ Save time: Readers can grasp the message quickly without having to look up unfamiliar terms

➤ Build trust: Simple language shows you're being transparent and not trying to hide behind big words

 

 

3. Have a clear takeaway.

Business writing is not meant to entertain.

Clearly convey action items or takeaways to conclude.

 

Go Deeper:

1. Check out “Copy of Writing Tips Email Sequence” for a copy of every email in this series

2. Check out Cohort Resources for all resources

3. Explore the Notion Home for cohort-specific information, like the Leaderboard