Developing a corporate boilerplate is among the most challenging writing projects an organization will ever undertake. Imagine trying to describe yourself in 300 words or less – who you are, what you stand for, everything you do. Writing a concise yet comprehensive, all-purpose description of an organization is hard enough. Factor in design-by-committee, and the process can quickly devolve into a heated debate over minuscule word choices (i.e., product versus solution, mission versus goal).  All that said, the exercise of writing a corporate boilerplate often brings to light fundamental disagreements and misunderstandings regarding important details like:

• Target markets
• Core product and service descriptions
• Competitive differentiators
• Overarching mission

I was once in a meeting where the principals debated the year the company was founded. These are all strategic, fundamental messages that one might expect everyone to agree upon, but more often that’s not the case. I urge clients to view the writing (or rewriting) of the corporate boilerplate as more than just a means to an end. It’s an exercise in self-examination. It’s a great opportunity for internal stakeholders to put everything on the table and ask, “Who are we; what do we stand for; and what do we do?” The answers will certainly surprise you. The debate will energize you. And in the end, you’ll have gained so much more than just a boilerplate.

For more on the nuts and bolts of crafting a boilerplate,
check out http://blog.journalistics.com/2010/how-to-make-your-boilerplate-sizzle/