Business Communication

Writing Clear Business Communication

This program is about learning about the writing process and covers the full spectrum of documents used when corresponding in the workplace.

Overview

Effective writing seldom, if ever, “magically materializes” on the spot. In reality, it is most often the product of planning, writing, and rewriting. This is why writing is called a process; it must go through a series of steps before it is clear and complete.

 The ability to write effectively comes naturally to some people, but for the vast majority, it is a task often approached with a mixture of trepidation and dread.

However, the ability to communicate in the written word, for whatever purpose, is an important part of our working and personal lives and can have a direct impact on our ability to persuade, gain commitment or agreement and enhance understanding.

Good writing sounds like talking on paper, which is why this program is focused on getting the message across and achieving the desired results using the “keep it simple and direct” approach.

At The End Of This Program, You Will Be Able To:

• Write effective e-mails, letters, memos, and reports

• Clearly articulate the message

• Achieve desired results from correspondence

• Organize content for maximum impact

• Format for enhanced understanding

• Choose the appropriate communication medium for each document

• Revise documents to increase clarity and impact

Getting Started

Foundations Concepts

• Business writing as a form of professional communication

• How business writing compares to other forms of writing

• Characteristics of good business writing

• Challenges with business writing

The Project Environment

• Business Writing in the Project Environment

• The concept of Art, Science and Optics of business writing

Art

• Economy

• Precision

• Action

• Music

• Personality

Science

• Purpose, simple, compound and complex sentence structures

• Techniques to engage the reader

• Point of View: tone, attitude and humor

• Organization: Opening, body, and closing

• Support and coherence

Optics

• Visual optics

• Sound optics

• Feel optics

• Effective optics

• Efficient optics

Email

• Formal vs. informal emails

• Suggestions for improving email communication

• Instant and text messaging

Reports

• Common types of reports created

• Formatting of reports

• Guidelines for meeting minutes

Contracts

• Types of contracts

• Common agreements

• Procurement documents

Templates, Forms, and Checklists

• Templates

• Forms

• Checklists

• Other Formatting

Good Documentation Practices

• Good documentation practices