I’ve recently noted that the most popular posts on my blog are lists, where I give advice in the form or “5 tips for X” or “10 ways to do Y.”  So I’ve started thinking that lists are probably more effective for other types of communication too.  Here are a few reasons you should use them.

1. Lists are easy to read.  People have a short attention span, so if you want to make sure your key points get across, bullet them out for easy consumption.
2. Lists are easy to write.  They make it easier to organize your thoughts and communicate your most important information.
3. You, and the people you’re sharing the list with, can check things off.  Human beings feel a sense of accomplishment after completing a task, so crossing items off a list gives the perception of forward momentum.
4. Lists jog your memory.  There’s something about the action of writing a list that gets your creative and productive juices flowing, and makes it so you remember to add pertinent items.
5. Lists have staying power.  Just by virtue of their format, lists tend to hang around.  You can post them on the fridge, in your cube, or on your desktop, and because you’re always looking at them, their messages are constantly reinforced.