Many undergraduate business students transition into the workforce equipped with communication habits that, while effective in academic settings, prove ineffective in professional environments. At university, students are trained to write for professors, not executives. This becomes problematic in the workplace where lengthy reports and academic jargon often obscure rather than clarify intent. Employers seek ideas they can absorb in seconds. This is where the one-pager – a single-page, high-impact document that helps students develop clarity of thought, concise expression and strategic communication – proves effective. 

We introduced the task of writing one-pagers to pitch ideas in place of lengthy reports. When we did this on our postgraduate digital transformation course, students initially resisted. However, 91 per cent who took part reported greater confidence in presenting to senior leadership. In one case, a student’s traditional 12-page report went unread but their one-pager secured them a summer internship. Three weeks after introducing the task, one student who had previously called it a “dumbing down” exercise remarked: “I pitched a real transformation plan to my CEO in under 500 words and he actually listened.” The tool reshaped how they wrote, thought and positioned themselves professionally. In this resource, I explore how integrating the one-pager activity into business courses fosters clarity, critical thinking and work-readiness, and offer tips on setting students up for success. 

Students often equate complexity with intellectual rigour, prioritising theoretical exposition, layered argumentation and extensive documentation. The result is a communication breakdown. When these individuals face high-stakes, time-sensitive executive settings, they frequently fail to connect with decision-makers. In business, simplicity is not merely appreciated – it is expected. As Leonardo da Vinci observed, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” 

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Educators must go beyond knowledge transfer. We must cultivate skills that enable students to thrive in dynamic, high-pressure environments. Excessive verbosity, vague arguments and theoretical abstraction must give way to precision, structure and strategic messaging. The one-pager serves as more than a writing tool – it is a pedagogical lens that trains students to think critically, act decisively and communicate with purpose. It teaches them to:

• communicate with executive clarity in attention-limited environments
• lead with intention, presence and decisiveness
• evaluate trade-offs and drive timely decisions – what we call “3D chess” thinking. 

Our experience in both corporate and academic leadership has revealed key foundational components that make an effective one-pager: 

• A compelling business case: Why does this matter now? What is at stake? 
• A clear plan: What are the objectives, risks and success metrics? 
• Stakeholder alignment: Who is affected and how are their interests addressed? 
• Strategic differentiation: What makes this solution stand out? 
• Focused execution: What are the next steps, and how will progress be tracked? 

A well-executed one-pager becomes a strategic tool that translates knowledge into influence. 

How to get students writing effective one-pagers

Begin each module by reviewing real examples of one-pagers, highlighting both effective and ineffective elements. 

Emphasise the “rule of one”: one page, one message, one decision.

Reinforce through weekly drafts, feedback and revision. 

Design assignments around authentic business problems that introduce ambiguity and trade-offs. 

Emphasise layout as a strategic asset – negative space, headings and bullets enhance readability. 

What does an effective one-pager look like?

A well-crafted one-pager addresses the following questions: 

• Why now? What is at stake? 
• What is the proposed plan, including objectives and success metrics? 
• Who is involved, and how are their interests aligned? 
• What distinguishes this approach from others? 
• What are the next steps? Outline the Monday morning action plan.

The one-pager is more than a writing constraint – it is a cognitive discipline and leadership habit. It fosters executive presence, decision-making skills and clear communication. Students who adopt it do not merely improve their writing; they develop sharper judgement, more persuasive messaging and stronger alignment with professional expectations.