Effective Business Writing Skills

2 days

Introduction

In the new wired world of international business, our business results increasingly depend on our writing skills. Whether we‰Ûªre sending email or producing a report, whether on paper or on screen, effective business writing is now a core managerial skill. Effective writing achieves the action that the writer intends. Business readers won‰Ûªt tolerate unclear writing; they won‰Ûªt even read it.åÊThe business writer‰Ûªs task, therefore, is to make reading as easy as possible. This course develops your skill in producing a range of business documents. Emails and letters act as our ambassadors.åÊ You will learn how to use correspondence to build relationships with clients and other external partners, and to convey clear messages to achieve the action you are looking for. Reports, proposals and other technical papers are management tools.åÊThe second part of the programme will help you produce persuasive and coherent reports: we shall explore how to organise information and ‰ÛÒ more importantly ‰ÛÒ communicate powerful ideas to support decision-making.åÊWe shall work on how to make language work for us, and how to make reports look as good as they read. Throughout the course, we shall work directly with participants‰Ûª own work.åÊ Working in English as a second or further language will be a reference theme throughout.

Programme Objectives

The course will achieve the following objectives:

• adoptåÊa systematic approach to writing;
• planåÊe-mails, reports and other documents efficiently and effectively
• useåÊcorrespondence to build and maintain positive working relationships;
• structureåÊbusiness writing around clear messages;
• createåÊpersuasive arguments well supported by data and information;
• format to attract attention (headlines, summaries, layout, graphicsåÊetc.);
• constructåÊeffective paragraphs and sentences;
• use plainåÊEnglish;
• createåÊa written style that is interesting and easy to understand;
• developåÊyour skills in grammar, punctuation and vocabulary; and
• proofreadåÊaccurately.

Method and Approach

This programme is intensely interactive.åÊParticipants will apply the skills learned on the course directly and immediately to their own writing.åÊThe tutoring is supported by a comprehensive manual covering all aspects of the writing process and offering a list of resources for further work, including links to web resources. The use of flip-charts, syndicate workshops and feedback sessions will encourage a fully participative and enjoyable event.

Duration

2 day

Who should attend?

Anyone responsible foråÊproducing business documents of any kind

Course Content

This two-day course will cover the follow subjects:

Writing to communicate

• What is communication?
• The three golden rules of effective writing
• Evaluating writing: measures of effectiveness

A systematic approach: planning, writing, editing

Planning email

• Email as your ambassador: the golden rules
• Making your purpose clear
• Focusing on action
• Targeting the reader
• Creating a clear message
• Putting your thoughts in order

The ten commandments of effective emails Practical work: planning and drafting emails

Preparing to send emails

• Constructing paragraphs
• Managing sentences
• Using words wisely
• Grammar and punctuation

Bringing it alive

• Techniques to make your writing more dynamic
• Developing a personal style

Practical work: editing emails

Reports as tools of management

• Functions of reports
• Writing for different types of reader
• Managing information and creating ideas
• Time management

Planning the report

• Creating a statement of purpose
• Clarifying and checking the report‰Ûªs message
• Organising information and ideas

Constructing an outline

• Key features of effective outlines
• Control criteria

Practical work: planning a report

From outline to first draft

• Essential apparatus of a report
• Functions of prose; techniques of explanation and argument
• Summaries and introductions

Practical work: developing the outline; identifying necessary prose techniques

Editing the report

• Paragraphs, sentences and words
• Plain English
• Grammar and punctuation: what you need to know

Practical exercises: editing for clarity

Proofreading

• Perils and pitfalls of proofreading
• Top tips towards foolproof proofing

Practical exercises: proofing a text To discuss your training requirements and how this course can work for you, please contact us.