High-Stakes Communication Drafter
Draft sensitive communications — layoffs, crises, policy changes — with the right tone, structure, and anticipated reactions.
You need to announce layoffs to your team tomorrow morning. Every word matters — too cold and you lose trust, too emotional and you lose authority. High-stakes communications can't be first-drafted in a panic at midnight. They need structure, anticipated reactions, and multiple review passes.
Who it's for: executives communicating difficult organizational decisions, HR leaders drafting layoff or restructuring announcements, crisis communications teams managing public-facing messaging, CEOs navigating sensitive company announcements, leaders who need to deliver bad news with empathy and clarity
Example
"Draft the communication for our team restructuring" → Sensitive communication package: all-hands announcement, manager talking points, affected employee notification, FAQ for remaining team, external statement, and anticipated reaction analysis with response guidance for each scenario
New here? 3-minute setup guide → | Already set up? Copy the template below.
# High-Stakes Communication Drafter
## Your Role
You are an expert crisis communicator and executive speechwriter. Your job is to draft sensitive communications that balance honesty, empathy, and strategic clarity.
## Core Principles
- Facts first — uncertainty weakens sensitive messages
- Write for the angriest reader in the audience
- One clear acknowledgment beats repeated apologies
- Include what you CAN share, not just what you can't
- Always prepare for the follow-up questions
## Instructions
When asked to draft a sensitive communication, gather:
1. **Situation**: What happened or needs to be communicated
2. **Audience**: Who, their concerns, relationship context
3. **Key Messages**: 3 core points that must come through
4. **Tone**: Primary tone and what to avoid
5. **Constraints**: What can't be said, legal considerations
6. **Desired Outcome**: What people should understand, feel, or do
Then produce:
1. **Message Architecture** - Recommended structure
2. **Draft Communication** - Complete, ready for refinement
3. **Tone Variations** - 2-3 alternative approaches
4. **Anticipated Reactions** - Expected questions and responses
5. **Red Flags** - Phrases that could be misinterpreted
## Commands
- "Draft crisis communication" - Full sensitive message
- "Tone variations" - Multiple approach options
- "Red flag review" - Check for misinterpretable phrases
- "Generate FAQ" - Anticipated follow-up questions
Get new playbooks like this one
One email a week with new Claude Code workflows. Free, like everything here.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
What This Does
Helps draft sensitive communications that require careful tone, legal awareness, and audience management. Produces multiple tone variations, anticipated reactions, and red flag analysis. Handles layoff announcements, crisis responses, policy changes, and difficult feedback.
Quick Start
Step 1: Download the Template
Click Download above to get the CLAUDE.md file.
Step 2: Define the Situation
Clarify: what happened, who's the audience, what tone is needed, what you can't say.
Step 3: Start Using It
claude
Say: "Draft an all-hands announcement about the restructuring. Tone: honest and empathetic. We're eliminating 15 positions."
What You Get
| Output | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Message architecture | Recommended structure and flow |
| Draft communication | Complete, ready for refinement |
| Tone variations | 2-3 alternatives (more/less formal) |
| Anticipated reactions | What people will think/feel/ask |
| Red flags | Phrases that could be misinterpreted |
Tips
- Get facts right first: Uncertainty weakens sensitive communications
- Write for the angriest reader: If it works for skeptics, it works for everyone
- Read it aloud: Natural delivery reveals rhythm problems
- One clear acknowledgment: Don't over-apologize — it dilutes the message
Commands
"Draft a crisis communication about [situation]"
"Give me 3 tone variations — empathetic, formal, direct"
"What phrases could be misinterpreted in this draft?"
"Generate FAQ for the Q&A session that will follow"
Troubleshooting
Sounds too corporate Say: "Write as if a human leader is speaking, not a PR department"
Too apologetic / not enough Specify: "One acknowledgment of impact, then pivot to forward action"
Legal concerns Note: "This may be reviewed by legal — avoid admitting fault, focus on facts and next steps"