Strategy Brief Prompt Template

Use this template to generate strategy memos, planning documents, decision briefs, or recommendation documents.

Template

Write a strategy brief or planning document for the following situation.

SITUATION
[What is the strategic question, challenge, or opportunity being addressed?
What is currently happening and why does it require a strategic response?]

CONTEXT
[Background that informs the strategy:
- What led to this situation?
- What constraints or resources apply?
- What has already been tried or decided?
- What do stakeholders already know?]

AUDIENCE
[Who will read this brief?
- Their role and decision-making authority
- What they care about in this context (ROI / risk / feasibility / alignment)
- What they already know about this topic]

GOAL OF THIS DOCUMENT
[What should this brief accomplish?
Examples: get approval to proceed / align stakeholders on a proposed approach / present options for a decision / document a recommendation for the record]

DECISION OR ACTION NEEDED
[What do you need the reader to do after reading this?
Examples: approve the budget / choose between two options / sign off on the direction / commit to the next milestone]

FRAMING
[How should the brief be structured?
Suggested default:
1. Situation / context (what is happening and why it matters)
2. Options or approach (what paths are available)
3. Recommendation (what you are proposing and why)
4. Next steps (what happens if this is approved)

Or specify your own structure if different.]

TONE
[Direct and professional. Confident. Not sales-y. No hedging.]

LENGTH
[One page / under 500 words / [your target]]

AVOID
[Jargon / vague language / padding / excessive caveating]

Tips for using this template

The clearest strategy briefs lead with the recommendation, not the background. If you want that structure, add: "Lead with the recommendation before the supporting context."
For contentious or political situations, add: "Anticipate the two most likely objections and address them briefly within the document."
If you need to be careful about certainty, add: "Acknowledge where there is uncertainty and how we plan to address it — but do not hedge everything."
This template works equally well for internal decisions, client-facing proposals, and leadership briefings.

Refinement prompts to keep handy

"The recommendation is buried. Move it to the second paragraph, right after the one-sentence situation summary."
"The options section is too long. Cut it to two options max with a clear statement of the tradeoffs for each."
"The next steps are vague. Rewrite them as specific actions with clear owners and a rough timeline."
"The tone is too cautious. This document is meant to build confidence in the decision, not hedge it. Remove the conditional language."

Quick version (for short decision memos)

Write a one-page decision memo.
Situation: [What is the situation and why does it require a decision?]
Audience: [Who makes the decision and what do they care most about?]
Recommendation: [What are you recommending?]
Key reasons: [Two or three reasons this is the right move]
Next step: [What happens if approved]
Tone: Direct and confident. Under 300 words.