I’m a big fan of the Law and Order shows and notice that they all follow a formula. The crime happens in the first minutes; one of the detectives utters a quippy line before the credits; there is always a foot chase, and the outcome is resolved in the same episode. It’s simple, but it has worked for hundreds of shows and made creator Dick Wolf very rich from syndication rights.
Having a formula or framework for more mundane tasks is a helpful tool. When you write a message that conveys bad news, begin with a buffer, then rationale, followed by the bad news, and a closing. A cover letter starts with sharing excitement, then synthesizes your strengths, explains how your skills match their needs, and finishes with a strong statement about the future. A proposal begins with context to explain why, then provides a specific recommendation, and concludes by highlighting next steps. A leadership dot introduces an idea, ties it to a lesson, and concludes with a suggested action and graphic.
Think about the underlying formula behind things you do repetitively. If you can identify the framework, everything that comes next becomes much easier.
