Think about strolling into a gathering, anticipating a PowerPoint presentation, solely to be handed a six-page doc, after which sitting in silence for half-hour to learn it. In keeping with billionaire businessman Jeff Bezos, this isn’t an uncommon prevalence. “Conferences at Amazon … are uncommon,” he just lately instructed podcaster Lex Fridman. “For half-hour, we sit there silently collectively within the assembly and browse, take notes within the margins. After which we focus on.”
This strategy isn’t new. Bezos banned PowerPoint shows in government conferences way back to 2004, changing them with “well-structured, narrative textual content.” The explanations? Individuals weren’t making ready, PowerPoint leaned an excessive amount of on persuasion, and shallow pondering may conceal behind slides.
“It’s higher simply to carve out the time for individuals,” Bezos defined. “So now we’re all on the identical web page.” In keeping with him, memos promote deeper pondering, truth-seeking, and extra considerate dialog. “When it’s important to write in full sentences with narrative construction, it’s actually laborious to cover sloppy pondering,” he stated.
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However how efficient is that this model outdoors of Amazon, and might it truly result in higher conferences and decision-making throughout workplaces?
Gurleen Baruah, organisational psychologist at That Tradition Factor, tells indianexpress.com, “ Completely. Conventional conferences usually lack clear agendas or depend on slides with bullet factors, which don’t require a lot thought. Many executives find yourself exhibiting up unprepared just because they’re busy.”
She continues, “Bezos’s strategy, beginning with an in depth memo, makes everybody decelerate, focus, and enter the dialogue knowledgeable and ready. Full sentences demand clearer pondering than bullet factors. This improves the standard of dialogue and decision-making. It’s not only a assembly hack however a cultural shift that values preparation and depth over presentation.”
From a psychological or office productiveness perspective, how does narrative writing change the standard of workforce discussions?
In keeping with Baruah, writing in full sentences forces the writer to suppose extra clearly, join dots, and construction arguments with logic and coherence. “Analysis in cognitive psychology means that the act of writing deepens crucial pondering and improves reminiscence recall. A memo reveals gaps in reasoning {that a} flashy slide may gloss over. It invitations suggestions not simply on the ‘what’ however on the ‘why’ and ‘how.’”
From a workforce dynamics standpoint, this type of writing encourages mental honesty and considerate debate, moderately than simply efficiency or persuasion.
Can a ‘silent begin’ with written memos additionally work for smaller groups or non-corporate setups?
“Sure, a ‘silent begin’ with written memos can completely work for smaller groups or non-corporate setups, typically much more successfully than in giant organisations. However whether or not it really works relies upon much less on workforce dimension and extra on cultural alignment. If an organisation values pace over thoughtfulness, or charisma over readability, this methodology could really feel sluggish or compelled,” notes the professional. Story continues beneath this advert
For memo-based conferences to succeed, leaders should mannequin depth over efficiency and prioritise substance over model. Baruah concludes, “It’s not nearly studying memos however constructing a tradition the place persons are given time to suppose, the place preparation is revered, and the place the default isn’t at all times ‘transfer quick,’ however ‘determine nicely.’ As with every change, consistency and readability across the why is vital.”
