PowerPoint presentations have become the go-to method for delivering content in corporate meetings across many companies. However, Amazon has carved its own path by banning PowerPoint and embracing a unique meeting culture centered around well-written six-page memos. Jeff Bezos once said: “The traditional kind of corporate meeting starts with a presentation. Somebody gets up in front of the room and presents with a powerpoint presentation, some type of slide show. In our view you get very little information, you get bullet points. This is easy for the presenter, but difficult for the audience. And so instead, all of our meetings are structured around a 6 page narrative memo.... If you have a traditional powerpoint presentation, executives interrupt. If you read the whole 6 page memo, on page 2 you have a question but on page 4 that question is answered.” This shift demonstrates Amazon's dedication to effective communication and creates an novel and impactful meeting experience.
1. Writing Culture - The Power of Narrative
In 2004, Amazon's founder and former CEO, Jeff Bezos, initiated a remarkable shift in the company's meeting culture. Instead of relying on PowerPoint presentations, Bezos introduced the practice of using six-page memos to communicate ideas. This change aimed to promote thoughtful, essay-style writing that fosters clarity and deep understanding.
At Amazon, writing is considered an essential skill and a cornerstone of effective communication. Jeff Bezos has emphasized the importance of clear and concise writing as a means of fostering critical thinking and decision-making. This emphasis on writing has permeated throughout the organization and is deeply ingrained in Amazon's culture.
It's important to note that memos at Amazon go beyond mere information-sharing. They are crafted as narratives, complete with a well-structured beginning, middle, and end. This storytelling approach breathes life into ideas and enables employees to comprehend the reasoning behind decisions. By encouraging the development of narratives, Amazon motivates employees to think deeply about their proposals and express them in a coherent and engaging manner.
Jeff Bezos, in his letter to shareholders in 2017, highlighted the power of narrative in the form of well-written memos, underscoring their role in facilitating high-quality discussions. As a result, Amazon's standard meeting agenda closely aligns with this memo writing culture. At the start of a meeting, participants receive printed copies of the memo, which they silently read for approximately 30 minutes. Any questions or points of discussion are noted directly on the memo, guiding the rest of the meeting. This method allows individuals to engage in independent thinking, free from the influence of others' opinions.
2. The "Six-Page Memo"
A key element of Amazon's memo writing culture revolves around the "six-page memo" rule. Instead of relying on lengthy presentations or slide decks, employees are tasked with crafting detailed memos before meetings. These memos, limited to a concise six pages, encourage employees to distill their ideas and arguments to their core essence. This approach ensures that meetings remain focused, productive, and grounded in thoughtful analysis.
Amazon's commitment to the memo format is reflected in its stringent requirements. Memo writers must adhere to specific guidelines, such as using a font size of 10 and abstaining from bullet points to avoid writing as powerpoint in word format. Drawing from Jesse Freeman's article in The Writing Cooperative, a structure for the six-page memo emerges:
Introduction — The memo begins by clearly setting up the document's purpose and outlining its intended direction. This section serves as a compass, guiding readers through the ensuing content.
Goals — Outlining the metrics for success upfront allows the memo to serve as a lens through which the rest of the document is viewed. This section ensures alignment with desired outcomes.
Tenets — Amazon places great importance on defining clear guiding principles. Tenets serve as inspirational pillars that underpin the entire plan, providing a solid foundation for decision-making.
State of the business — Detailing the current state of affairs is crucial. This section provides an in-depth snapshot of the business, enabling comparisons and setting the stage for subsequent analysis.
Lessons learned — With a data-driven approach, Amazon emphasizes reflecting on past experiences. This section presents a comprehensive assessment of prior activities, highlighting both successes and areas for improvement.
Strategic priorities — The heart of the memo, this section outlines the proposed plan, including execution strategies. It must align seamlessly with the goals set at the beginning, ensuring a clear path towards achieving desired outcomes.
By adhering to this structured format, Amazon's six-page memos enable concise and impactful communication. The emphasis on brevity and thoughtful analysis ensures that every word and idea carries weight, leading to well-informed discussions and decisions.
Let's take a closer look at Jesse Freeman’s sample 6-pager.
Figure 1. The introduction section from Jesse Freeman’s sample 6-pager
Figure 2. The goals section from Jesse Freeman’s sample 6-pager
Figure 3. The tenets from Jesse Freeman’s sample 6-pager
Figure 4. Setting up the introduction for the state of the business section in Jesse Freeman’s sample 6-pager
Figure 5. Setting up the introduction for the lessons learned section in Jesse Freeman’s sample 6-pager
Figure 6. The beginning of strategic priorities from Jesse Freeman’s sample 6-pager
Figure 7. Excerpt of the last strategic priority from Jesse Freeman’s sample 6-pager
3. The Two-Pizza Rule
Another distinctive aspect of Amazon's culture, tied to memo writing, is the "two-pizza rule." This rule emphasizes the importance of small teams that can be fed enough by two pizzas, promoting efficiency and agility. By limiting team size, Amazon encourages effective collaboration and decentralized decision-making.
The connection between memo writing and the two-pizza rule is clear. Memos allow individuals to communicate directly with decision-makers, bypassing hierarchical structures. This decentralized approach enables teams to make informed decisions quickly, fostering innovation and experimentation.
The integration of written memos and the two-pizza rule is relevant as it ensures active participation from all team members. With a limited number of participants, diverse perspectives are considered, leading to comprehensive decision-making and a sense of ownership.
By combining memo writing and the two-pizza rule, Amazon cultivates a culture of collaboration, where every voice is valued. This approach streamlines decision-making and empowers employees to contribute meaningfully, regardless of their position within the organization.
4. A unique Amazon culture
Insisting on the highest standards
One defining aspect of Amazon's culture is its continuous commitment to the highest standards. Rooted in the company's core principle of customer obsession, Amazon places great importance on setting and achieving exceptional benchmarks. This commitment extends beyond hiring top talent; it involves creating an environment that cultivates excellence. Jeff Bezos believes that high standards can be taught by immersing employees in an environment that upholds these standards.
Adhering to high standards brings numerous benefits. First and foremost, it results in the delivery of top-quality products and services to customers. Additionally, it acts as a magnet, attracting and retaining top talent. Lastly, and perhaps less visible but equally vital, it cultivates a sense of professionalism and enhance the ability to work autonomously. As Bezos put it, "In a high standards culture, doing that work well is its own reward – it’s part of what it means to be a professional.”
Now, you may be wondering how long it typically takes Amazon employees to write a memo. In his 2017 letter to shareholders, Bezos emphasized that it cannot be completed in a few hours or even a couple of days. Crafting a memo requires time for writing, peer review, and iterative refinement to ensure clarity of ideas and thoughtful analysis. It can take a week or more to reach completion. It’s undoubtedly a demanding endeavor, but the rewards it brings make it well worth the effort.
A culture of ownership, accountability and teamwork
The memo writing culture at Amazon nurtures a strong sense of ownership and accountability among its employees. While a specific team member may be assigned to write a memo based on their skills, the memo remains a collective effort. Each team member takes responsibility for their contributions, empowering them to own their ideas and ensure proposals are well-researched and carefully considered before reaching decision-makers. The memo preparation process itself exemplifies teamwork, as authorship remains anonymous to highlight the collective effort of the entire team.
Another notable aspect of Amazon's culture is the "single-threaded owner" mindset. This mindset encourages every employee to embrace full ownership of their initiatives, going beyond basic requirements. Amazon believes that when employees have a strong sense of ownership, they are more inclined to drive innovation, take calculated risks, and achieve exceptional results.
Challenging ideas and encouraging debate
Amazon's memo writing culture promotes a healthy environment for challenging ideas and encouraging open debates. Memos with thoughtful and structured communication, act as a catalyst for discussion, allowing employees to provide feedbacks and proposals before decisions are made. This culture of intellectual rigor and constructive criticism ensures that ideas are thoroughly vetted, leading to better decision-making and avoiding groupthinking.
Amazon's memo writing culture plays a vital role in shaping the company's overall culture and decision-making processes. By emphasizing clear and concise writing, encouraging narratives, and enforcing the six-page memo rule, Amazon cultivates critical thinking and ownership among its employees. The company's culture of accountability, decentralized decision-making, and open debates leads to more effective communication, innovation, and ultimately, drives Amazon's success.
In a world dominated by digital communication and fancy slide presentations, Amazon's commitment to memo writing serves as a reminder of the power of the written words. As other organizations look to Amazon's practices, they can draw inspiration from the company's memo writing culture and embrace the transformative potential of clear and compelling written communication in shaping their own cultures.
That’s all for today. Till next week!
Cheers,
Do Thi Dieu Thuong