How leaders should write a long-term vision email

How leaders should write a long-term vision schmelzglasHow leaders should write a long-term vision emailWhen you write a big idea or long-term planning email, the danger is to write too much.If yur employees open an email and are smacked right away with 14 giant paragraphs that scroll and scroll, they will recoil and dread the 30 minutes they need to spend sifting through your manifesto.Thats why, in Carmine Gallos new books, Five Stars The Communication Secrets to Get from Good to Great, the author encourages leaders to explain ideas in grade-school language.He writes so few companies, instructors, leaders, and entrepreneurs pay attention to the grade level of the words they use. Big words arent better theyre confusing.Thats why, when a leader sends a big idea email to assess the road ahead, the message needs to clearly accomplish two endsLay out a vision or plan in as few words as possibleSet up further in-person (or virtual) discussionThe email should not become the start of a c hain with 137 messages from 12 different people. The message also shouldnt prompt a planning session over an internal communication tool or instant message. Both approaches are wildly inefficient (and annoying).Your email needs to set the tone and agenda so when everyone meets face to face, they have a starting point for dialogue.Thats why I suggest a long-term planning email like the one below.- - - Subject line Looking ahead to the new yearHi everyone,As we think about the new year and our business goals, I have laid out some big ideas on the direction I feel we need to go. We will reconvene after January 1 to discuss these points and hopefully refine them even further as a group.NOTE Right away, you explain the email is a starting point and that you plan to expand further during a group discussion.Weve seen tremendous growth in our medical sales vertical in Q4. I want to brainstorm new ways we can tap into that space and generate new leads.Strategy or big idea 2 thats a similar length to 1Strategy or big idea 3 thats a similar length to 1Strategy or big idea 4 thats a similar length to 1NOTE You can go past four ideas, but if the list becomes too long, then its difficult for people to remember or wrap their heads around. Less is more.Please do some thinking on your own and be prepared to talk through these action items during our staff meeting. Of course, I welcome your own thoughts on how to attack the new year.I look forward to the discussion, Your first nameDeeper insightAgain, the email is plainly written and designed to kickstart face-to-face conversation rather than 10,000 words everyone feels compelled to work through.Set the table, explain next steps and then talk it all out.As Gallo writes, Long, convoluted sentences might make me feel smarter, but it wouldnt help the average reader.Short and simple. Thats how leaders operate with authority and efficiency.This article first appeared on Dannyhrubin.com.