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exec-comms skill

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This skill drafts executive memos and board updates using Amazon 6-pager and SCQA frameworks to create clear, decision-focused communications.

npx playbooks add skill menkesu/awesome-pm-skills --skill exec-comms

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---
name: exec-comms
description: Drafts executive memos and stakeholder communications using Amazon's 6-pager structure, Stripe's memo format, and SCQA framework. Use when writing board updates, executive summaries, or strategic documents.
---

# Executive Communication

## When This Skill Activates

Claude uses this skill when:
- Writing executive memos
- Creating board updates
- Drafting stakeholder emails
- Structuring strategic docs

## Core Frameworks

### 1. Amazon 6-Pager Structure

**Format:**
```markdown
# [Title]

## Executive Summary (BLUF - Bottom Line Up Front)
[Key decision/recommendation in 2-3 sentences]

## Context
[Background needed to understand]

## Analysis
[Data, options considered, tradeoffs]

## Recommendation
[What you propose and why]

## Next Steps
[Specific actions, owners, timeline]

## Appendix
[Supporting data, details]
```

### 2. SCQA Framework

**Structure:**
- **Situation:** Current state
- **Complication:** Problem/challenge
- **Question:** What should we do?
- **Answer:** Your recommendation

---

## Action Templates

### Template: Executive Memo

```markdown
# [Title]: [One-line summary]

## Executive Summary
[Bottom line up front - decision needed or announcement]

## Situation
[Current state, context]

## Complication
[Problem or opportunity]

## Question
[What needs to be decided or understood]

## Recommendation
[Your proposal]

## Rationale
[Why this is the right approach]
- Reason 1
- Reason 2
- Reason 3

## Alternatives Considered
| Option | Pros | Cons | Decision |
|--------|------|------|----------|
| A      | ...  | ...  | Not chosen |
| B      | ...  | ...  | **Recommended** |

## Next Steps
1. [Action] - [Owner] - [Date]
2. [Action] - [Owner] - [Date]

## Success Metrics
- [How we'll measure success]

## Risks & Mitigation
- **Risk:** [describe] → **Mitigation:** [how we'll handle]
```

---

## Quick Reference

### 📝 Executive Comms Checklist

**Structure:**
- [ ] BLUF (bottom line first)
- [ ] Context clear
- [ ] Decision/recommendation obvious
- [ ] Next steps specific

**Style:**
- [ ] Concise (no fluff)
- [ ] Scannable (bullets, headers)
- [ ] Data-backed
- [ ] Action-oriented

---

## Key Quotes

**Amazon:**
> "Start with the press release. Work backwards."

**On Executive Writing:**
> "If you can't summarize it in 2 sentences, you don't understand it well enough."

Overview

This skill drafts executive memos and stakeholder communications using proven frameworks: Amazon's 6-pager, Stripe-style memos, and the SCQA model. It produces crisp board updates, executive summaries, and strategic documents that surface decisions, tradeoffs, and next steps. The focus is clarity, actionability, and data-backed recommendations.

How this skill works

The skill maps your input (goal, context, data, options) into a structured memo template: BLUF/executive summary, context, analysis, recommendation, next steps, and appendix. It can format content as a 6-pager, SCQA narrative, or hybrid memo, and produces headers, bullets, and a measurable success section. Outputs emphasize a clear decision, rationale, alternatives considered, owners, timelines, and risks with mitigations.

When to use it

Preparing a board update that must surface a decision and metrics.
Writing a one-page executive summary for leadership review.
Drafting stakeholder emails that require alignment and clear next steps.
Structuring a strategic proposal where tradeoffs and recommendations are central.
Creating onboarding docs for cross-functional decision-making meetings.

Best practices

Start with BLUF (bottom line up front) so readers grasp the decision immediately.
Include concise context and only data that changes the recommendation.
List alternatives considered with clear pros and cons to show tradeoffs.
State owners and deadlines for each next step to drive accountability.
Use short headers, bullets, and a success-metrics section for scannability.

Example use cases

Board memo recommending a new pricing strategy with forecasted impact and rollout plan.
Executive summary proposing investment in a platform initiative, including ROI and risks.
Stakeholder update announcing product roadmap changes and required approvals.
Pre-read for an exec meeting that frames a question, options, and recommended decision.
Cross-functional alignment email that assigns owners and deadlines after a major launch.

FAQ

Can the skill tailor tone for different audiences?

Yes. Provide the target audience (board, VPs, engineering) and desired tone (formal, concise, candid) and the output will adapt language and detail level.

How does it handle sensitive tradeoffs or controversial recommendations?

It surfaces data, outlines alternatives with pros and cons, and includes a Risks & Mitigation section to make tradeoffs explicit and manageable.