The CORDD project brief template.
CORDD stands for Context, Objective, Rules, Definition of Done and Due. My team writes one before any project changes hands, whether it goes to a new hire, an agency or a freelancer.
Write your project brief
Context
Why this matters and what's happening now, in 2 to 3 sentences.
0 sentences
Objective
One outcome, written as the finished result.
Steps to get there
Who does what, by when.
Rules
Limits, standards and who approves what.
Definition of Done
Each deliverable, what complete looks like and who signs off.
Due
The final deadline and how you check in.
What each letter asks for.
Five parts, one page. Write them in this order and the owner can start without a meeting.
Context
Why the work matters and what is happening now, in two or three sentences, plus every link and file the owner needs. If they would have to ask you where something lives, it goes here.
Objective
One outcome, written as if it is already done. "Google Ads is live and every call is tracked to a keyword" gives the owner a finish line. "Help with ads" does not.
Rules
The limits the owner works inside: budget caps, brand and legal standards, who approves what. Clear rules let people make decisions without waiting on you.
Definition of Done
Each deliverable, what complete looks like, who approves it and by when. Both of you can look at the work and agree it is finished.
Due
The final deadline and the check-ins along the way, such as a daily Slack update and a Monday call, so a slipping date shows up in week one.
Why we write a brief before work changes hands.
Say you hand a Google Ads launch to a new hire in a ten-minute hallway chat. Two weeks later the ads are live. The tracking is not, and nobody checked the copy against the bar's advertising rules.
Now you pay twice: a week of rework, plus every dollar that ran without tracking.
The brief takes 20 minutes. The rework takes days.
Owners skip it because explaining feels slower than doing the work yourself. The first time, it is. After that the brief does the explaining, and the same page works for a new hire, an agency or a freelancer.
How to use the template.
- Write the objective first. If you cannot write one finished result, the project is not ready to hand off.
- Fill in the context and the links, so nobody has to ask where anything lives.
- Add rules only for the decisions you want made your way. Leave the rest to the owner.
- Write the definition of done with the person doing the work, then set the dates together.
- Send the PDF or the text, and hold the check-ins you wrote down.
Your one task this week.
Pick one project you have been meaning to hand off. Write its brief before Friday and send it. Then count the questions that come back: each one points at a line the brief was missing.
Frequently asked questions.
What is a project brief?
A project brief is a one-page summary of a project someone else will run: why it matters, the result you want, the limits, what done looks like and the deadline. You write it before the work starts so everyone agrees on the job.
What does CORDD stand for?
Context, Objective, Rules, Definition of Done and Due. It is the delegation framework we use to hand off every project, whether it goes to someone on the team, an agency or a freelancer.
Is the template free, and do I need to give an email?
It is free, and you do not need to give an email. Fill it in on this page and download the PDF, or take the blank PDF, Word, fillable or handwriting version. Email is only there if you want a copy sent to you or your team.
Where is my brief saved?
In your own browser, on this device. Nothing you type leaves your computer unless you ask for an emailed copy. Clearing your browser data removes it.
Does it work for marketing projects?
We built it for them: ad launches, website rebuilds, SEO work and onboarding a new agency. The example on this page is a Google Ads launch for a law firm.
Where to next.
Start with your free Marketing Impact score.
It takes a few minutes. You get a score from 1 to 5 on each of the seven dimensions of your marketing and see where to start. If you’d rather talk first, book a 15-minute call.