Writing Briefing Notes - Level 2

You know how to write a briefing note, but now you're working with tighter timelines, broader audiences, and higher expectations. That’s when the pressure builds. With so much to say and limited space, it’s easy to second-guess what to include, how to structure your message, and whether your point is clear enough.

When briefing notes fall short, it’s not just a personal challenge; it slows decisions and impacts organizational efficiency. Decision-makers don’t have time to search for meaning or sort through scattered points. If a message isn’t apparent immediately, it can lead to missed opportunities, delayed action, and reduced trust in your work.

This advanced workshop is designed to take you beyond the basics. You’ll conduct a thorough audience analysis, identify key resources that support briefing note writing, and assess the strengths and weaknesses of real examples. Through targeted exercises and collaborative review, you’ll explore what makes a note effective, strengthen its structure, and learn how to avoid common pitfalls. You’ll also practice editing for focus and clarity, helping you deliver key messages with greater confidence.

By the end of the session, you’ll be better equipped to write briefing notes that are clear, credible, and easy to act on. You’ll refine your editing skills, build a more confident writing voice, and gain tools to improve the clarity and value of every briefing note you write.

What You Will Learn

Identify key readers and tailor briefing notes to meet their specific needs.
Identify strengths and areas for improvement in a briefing note.
Assess the structure, organization, and clarity of briefing notes.
Apply advanced writing techniques for clarity, conciseness and precision in briefing notes.
Recognize common pitfalls and challenges in briefing note writing and learn to avoid them.
Apply editing and proofreading techniques to enhance quality.

Who Should Attend

This Level 2 workshop is for professionals who already have experience with briefing notes and want to write more clearly, efficiently, and effectively. If you support senior leaders or write under tight timelines, this session will help you deliver focused notes that meet high expectations.

You should attend if you

Have experience writing briefing notes but want to improve their clarity, structure, or impact
Are working with tight timelines or high expectations and need to write efficiently without sacrificing quality
When space is limited, struggle to decide what to include—and what to leave out
Want to build credibility by ensuring your notes support fast, informed decisions
Need practical strategies to edit more effectively and fine-tune your writing voice
Work in roles where briefing notes influence policy, funding, or operational direction

By the end of this workshop, you’ll be able to write briefing notes that are sharper, more focused, and better aligned with your readers’ needs. You’ll walk away with strategies you can apply right away to improve how you write under pressure.

Prerequisite: Writing Briefing Notes that Inform

Workshop Format

This advanced session is designed to help you refine and strengthen your approach to briefing note writing. You’ll work through real examples, revise your own documents, and apply advanced strategies for organizing content and sharpening key messages. Group discussions, peer review, and targeted editing tasks give you space to assess your current habits and test new techniques.

You’ll also take away a practical workbook with tools, examples, and checklists to use back on the job.