You write in business, to convince others

• Buy a product or service
• Approve a budget
• Sign a proposal
• Change a process

Your writing needs to be compelling and relevant to persuade people to read it and take desired action toward your objectives

A powerful and effective communications methodology can help you discard tedious, time-consuming writing habits you might have developed since childhood

• Develop analytical thinking techniques that facilitate clear, reader-focused writing
• Ask probing, insightful questions that will help to identify your reader’s perceptions, empowering your writing to speak directly to their needs
• Cultivate active-listening skills to let you focus on how your readers interpret your words; and, to identify your audience’s motivation

You should write with intention so your words don’t obscure your ideas

• Develop a compelling business story that will engage your readers
• Use persuasive writing techniques to produce powerful proposals, reports, emails, and more

Articulate complex information (if any) clearly and concisely

• Think analytically about your business benefits from your reader’s point of view
• Strengthen and streamline your writing using professional-quality editing and revision techniques
• Leverage on powerful email subject lines that get your reader’s attention
• Avoid pompous business words and phrases

Let us see some clear Writing Essentials:

• How to read with purpose to uncover essential facts
• Identify what is important and what to ignore
• How to develop a clear, focused message for your reader
• The Clarity Principle – single most important point in writing
• Four ways to define a clear objective

Define expected outcome:

• Identify four typical audience types
• How to write to each reader’s perspective

Do not begin writing without planning.

Focus on getting things done effectively than getting things done quickly

• Examine your messages and topics
• Analyze options
• Choose a reader-focused strategy
• Organize your ideas
• Communicate powerfully and persuasively

 

Use these thinking tools

• 4-step process to help participants think clearly, organize your ideas, focus on objectives, take less time writing – Plan, write, revise, edit
• Analytical questions for looking beyond the obvious
• Brainstorming for generating ideas and form logical connections
• Outline your ideas and structure a persuasive document

Analysis Exercises

• Identify and answer your reader’s objections
• Tune into what every reader wants to know
• Uncover your real objectives for writing
• Keep your words from obscuring your ideas
• Avoid jargon, clichés and pompous language
• Motivate your reader through clear, persuasive writing

Persuasive Writing

• Position yourself in the reader’s mind
• Write for your reader’s perspective
• Communicating complex information clearly and concisely
• Develop your own business writing style
• Create an effective opening statement, purpose, and compelling closing statement

Argument structure

• Structure an argument
• Introduce facts
• Support claims
• Make clear recommendations

Argument Exercise

• Identify key issues and problems to be resolved
• A convincing presentation
• Insightful questions to help you think and write analytically

Grammar & Mechanics

Sentences & Paragraphs

• The Sentence – know what they are
• The Paragraph – The document’s rhythm section
• Quantity vs. Quality – know when enough is enough
• Style – set the right tone for your audience and purpose
• Clarity – What’s clear for the writer is often confusing for the reader

Join us at Pathfinders. We regularly conduct business writing exercises with our clients.

 

Suresh Shah, Pathfinders Enterprise