The five-line brief to write before an outreach email
A practical planning note written for this website.
The situation
Start with a plain description of what is happening. Avoid turning this line into a pitch. A situation might be a new resource, an unanswered question or a planned collaboration.
The audience
Choose the people for whom the situation is relevant. Describe their role or interest rather than collecting a broad set of job titles.
The evidence
List the material that supports your idea. Distinguish observations, estimates and verified facts. If a claim cannot be checked, rewrite it or leave it out.
The ask
Write one action the recipient could take. If it requires several decisions, reduce the first step.
The boundary
State what you are not asking for, or the point at which you will close the conversation. This makes the plan easier for a teammate to follow.