Why Intelligent Minds Like Jeff Bezos Embrace the ‘Rule of Writing’

Years in the past, Jeff Bezos began an attention-grabbing apply at Amazon.

Earlier than assembly to debate a brand new product or concept, Bezos would organize for an govt to jot down a narratively structured six-page memo. Whereas some leaders would attempt to write such a memo in only a few hours, Bezos stated one of the best ones took a minimum of every week to finish.

“The nice memos are written and re-written, shared with colleagues who’re requested to enhance the work, put aside for a few days, after which edited once more with a recent thoughts,” Bezos as soon as defined.

When it got here time to fulfill, Bezos and his staff would then sit collectively in silence for the primary 20 minutes or in order they took time to learn the memo, make notes, and put together to debate. The higher written the memo, the upper the standard of the dialogue that adopted.

This apply of Amazon is only one of many who crystallizes an vital lesson, one that may rework the best way you assume and talk.

The rule of writing is straightforward:

If you wish to make clear your pondering, bear in mind one thing vital, or talk one thing clearly, write it down.

Let’s break down every of those advantages, and see how one can make the rule of writing give you the results you want.

Have you ever ever skilled the next:

You have got a query for a colleague, however once you ask it, they do not fairly comply with. You attempt to clarify it, however as you do, you clumsily fumble your words-;solely to find you have not utterly thought via your query.

After experiencing this downside sufficient occasions myself, I’ve began writing down questions earlier than asking them. Usually after I achieve this, a humorous factor occurs:

• decide I truly must ask a very completely different query
• not see the necessity to ask the query
• work out the reply to the query myself

There is a easy cause for this phenomenon:

Clear writing results in clear pondering, and vice-versa.

Improves understanding, reminiscence, and utility
Skilled copywriters know that among the finest methods to study to jot down nice copy is to transcribe writing from different nice copywriters. This apply helps you create your personal type whereas borrowing from one of the best practices of others.

The explanation this works, is as a result of once you write, you may’t assist however decelerate and assume. Doing so helps you internalize what you have written, whereas concurrently rising your personal talent.

When trying to place my questions into writing, I do not at all times determine issues out by myself. However along with serving to me assume clearly, this train helps me to anticipate what questions my companion may need.

It additionally helps to stroll away from what I’ve written and return to it later. As Bezos defined, this lets you edit “with a recent thoughts,” and might help you additional make clear your communication.

On this approach, when you’re able to share your ideas with others, you are setting the stage for a high-quality dialogue, main to raised work transferring ahead.

So, the following time you wish to:

• Be taught
• Perceive
• Keep in mind
• Apply
• Talk

…or higher leverage the collective intelligence of your staff, take a web page out of Jeff Bezos’s playbook, and comply with the ‘rule of writing.’

It will make you better-and make everybody else higher, too.