A simple hierarchy for consistent messages
Core story → supporting theme → audience-relevant example
Start with the shared story, select the theme that matters to the audience, then add an example only when an appropriate source supports it. The wording may change by channel; the meaning and evidence standard should not.
Northstar's sample message map
Prompts help a communicator choose relevant support; they are not evidence by themselves.
| Layer | Message | Evidence prompt |
|---|---|---|
| Core story | We are working to make collaboration simpler so people can find context, involve the right colleagues, and move work forward. | What approved source supports any statement about current experience or change? |
| Theme: navigate | Make the purpose and current context easier to find. | Can a verified journey or information review support the specific example? |
| Theme: connect | Bring relevant people into the work with a clear request for their input. | Can a real, permission-cleared handoff example illustrate this practice? |
| Theme: coordinate | Turn shared context into an explicit decision and next action. | Is there a verified record that supports the decision or action being described? |
Worked example: replace an overclaim with a bounded message
The safer version states an intention and identifies what an example could illustrate.
| Details | Bounded, usable wording | Overbroad wording |
|---|---|---|
| Example message | We are simplifying how teams share context; a verified handoff walkthrough can illustrate the intended change. | Everything is seamless now. |
| Why the wording differs | Names a direction and makes the use of evidence conditional on verification. | Makes a universal outcome claim without identifying evidence or scope. |
Adapt the same meaning to the moment
These fictional examples keep the core story consistent while changing the level of detail.
Internal update
“We are working to make cross-team collaboration simpler. This update focuses on making handoff context easier to find; the walkthrough is an example to review, not a measured outcome.”
- Name the theme.
- State whether the example is verified or illustrative.
Team discussion
“For this handoff, what context would help the next group act? Let's capture the decision, the role taking the next step, and the source we would check before describing this as an improvement.”
- Connect the narrative to a real working question.
- Record the next action and evidence check.