Draft a one-page business brief
Talk your idea through with a specialist and turn it into a one-page brief: the problem, the plan, who it is for, and the ask. Cut everything that does not earn its place, share it, and let a team or partner grasp it in two minutes instead of a meeting.
A one-pager forces clarity. If the thinking does not fit on a page, it is not finished yet.
Step by step
- 1
Talk it through
Think out loud with a specialist so the messy idea gets sharper before you write.
- 2
Name the problem and plan
State the problem, the plan to solve it, and who it is for — plainly.
- 3
Cut to one page
Remove anything that does not earn its place. One page is the discipline.
- 4
Share and act
Send it round; a good brief replaces a meeting and ends in a decision.
If it does not fit, it is not clear
The one-page limit is the point. Forcing the problem, plan, and ask onto a single page is what turns a vague idea into something a team can act on.
Key terms
- Brief.
- A one-page summary of the problem, the plan, and what you want to happen.
- The ask.
- The single decision or action you want from whoever reads the brief.
FAQ
What goes in a one-page brief?
The problem, who it affects, the plan, and the ask — plus just enough context to make the case. Nothing that does not earn its place.
How is a brief different from a deck?
A brief is a fast read for a decision; a deck walks an audience through the story. Start with the brief, build the deck if you need to present.