How can you write creative, innovative, and problem-solving emails and memos?

1 Know your purpose

Before you start writing, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your email or memo. Do you want to inform, persuade, request, or propose something? Do you want to solve a problem, share an idea, or give feedback? Having a specific and realistic goal will help you focus your message and avoid unnecessary or irrelevant information.

2 Know your audience

Another important factor to consider is who you are writing to and what they need to know. Think about their level of knowledge, interest, and authority on the topic. How can you tailor your tone, style, and language to suit their expectations and preferences? How can you address their concerns, questions, or objections? How can you show respect, empathy, and professionalism?

3 Be creative

Creativity is not only about being original or clever, but also about being relevant and engaging. You can use creativity to capture your reader's attention, make your message memorable, and inspire action. For example, you can use a catchy subject line, a relevant analogy, a surprising fact, or a personal story to hook your reader. You can also use humor, imagery, or emotion to connect with your reader and make your message more appealing.

4 Be innovative

Innovation is not only about finding new solutions, but also about finding better ways to communicate them. You can use innovation to simplify your message, clarify your points, and support your arguments. For example, you can use bullet points, headings, or tables to organize your information. You can also use graphs, charts, or diagrams to illustrate your data. You can also use links, attachments, or references to provide additional resources.

5 Be problem-solving

Problem-solving is not only about identifying and resolving issues, but also about anticipating and preventing them. You can use problem-solving to demonstrate your understanding, analysis, and evaluation of the situation. For example, you can use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to describe a problem and how you solved it. You can also use the RAP model (Review, Action, Plan) to summarize your message and propose the next steps.

6 Proofread and edit

The final step to writing creative, innovative, and problem-solving emails and memos is to proofread and edit your work. You want to make sure that your message is clear, concise, and correct. You also want to avoid any errors, typos, or inconsistencies that could undermine your credibility and professionalism. You can use tools like Grammarly, Hemingway, or ProWritingAid to check your grammar, spelling, and readability. You can also ask a colleague or a friend to review your work and give you feedback.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?