Any phase · Craft
Write clearly: briefs, updates and decision records
Much of a PM's influence happens in writing. Clear, short documents help people understand quickly, decide well and remember why.
About 1-2 daysEvergreenLast reviewed 5 November 2026
Who this applies to
- Skills it builds
- Communication and influence
- PM types
- All
- Product types
- All
- Starting points
- All
- Ways of working
- All
- Experience
- All
- Size of organisation
- All
Steps, by experience
Beginner (under 1 year)
- Start with the point: what you want the reader to know or decide.
- Know your reader and what they already know.
- Use short sentences, plain words and headings.
- Cut anything that does not help the reader.
- Ask a colleague to read it and tell you what they took away.
Intermediate (1 to 4 years)
- Lead with the conclusion.
- Structure documents for scanning.
- Edit hard and test with a reader.
Experienced (5+ years)
- Write narratives that replace slide decks for big decisions.
- Set writing standards for your team.
- Use written decision records to build institutional memory.
Who can do this
Owner: Product manager
Can be delegated to
- Content Designer: Review documents for clarity
Reviewed by: Content Designer
Tool examples
- Google Docs
- Use suggestion mode so reviewers propose cuts.
- Confluence
- Use a decision record template: context, options, decision, reasons.
- Claude
- Paste a draft and ask it to cut it by a third without losing meaning. Check the result.
Definition of done
- Document leads with the main point
- Plain language and clear structure
- Tested with a reader
Common pitfalls
- Burying the conclusion
- Jargon and acronyms
- Writing for yourself, not the reader