Do you need a confidence boost in your workplace communications?

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Tips on Writing Effective Business English
Tips by Fiona Talbot,
World-known business writing author and consultant
TQI Word Power Skills

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Writing matters: let’s face it
we almost all write in today’s workplace
 But what if you’ve never been taught business writing skills? This can be a problem…
… because writing dominates office & other workplace communication today
 Bosses need people who write effective e-mails, presentations, reports, IMs etc
 As there’s competition for every job - & companies often have to fight for survival,
this slideshare shows how writing effectively is a key skill to develop
 Why? Feedback consistently shows vast numbers of customers are prepared
to walk away from companies who:
- write ‘badly’ (in their opinion)
- write unclear messages
- give wrong personal or other details
- convey the wrong tone
- don’t present their writing professionally

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The good news? Today you get noticed
for writing well
 So listen to what bosses and readers say they need; tune in to the style they like
 Use that, get noticed for the right reasons, ahead of the rest, by:
 Designing your writing to get results for the task in hand (do your research; know why
you’re writing!)
 Writing clearly, so people understand you first time – and as quickly as possible
 Getting all the details right
 Using the right tone for your audience (the right level of formality or informality /
friendliness for the sector, culture and generation)
 Writing with the right impact for your social media crowd (be heard above the noise!)
 Being professional at all times. This includes not just checking spelling, punctuation and
grammar – but also caring about the entire look and feel of what you write

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The mechanics: what do you need to write?
How? Why?
 Step back. Think before you write!
 What needs to go in that white space, on paper or on screen?
 How to structure it? Where must it lead (from your and your readers’ perspectives)?
 Otherwise you’re wasting everyone’s time
 Have you addressed any cultural / generational differences in the way your target audience
communicate?
 Are you enabling calls to action / interaction to take you into readers’ future time?

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Simple can be smart
when communicating in the digital age
 Communication today must be heard above the noise’, grab eyeballs and keep attention
ongoing
 The moment readers have to try to work out what you mean, can be the moment you lose
them! They may move away to someone who ‘can speak their language’
As an example, what do the following words really say and mean?
“ Blue sky thinking will help us achieve a client focus situation,
so that the team is incentivised to monetise the deliverables,
we pick the low hanging fruit and sing from the same hymn
sheet ”
 No prizes for guessing, because who knows? Complicated writing can be dumb.
Check out this YouTube animated video. Hear how the native English speaker completely
fails by choosing ‘I’m cleverer-than-you’ idiom. Interestingly, it’s the plain language
non-native English speaker that we can all understand!
h

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Time is precious and time is money for all !
 If your writing is for information only, say so. If you need a response, express that. Give
a call to action or continuing interaction. Enable it! Make it easy and desirable for people
to respond
 Time is money – both for you and for your readers, so use it efficiently
 Don’t rush; equally don’t waffle. You write effectively when you send clear, correct
messages. Invest in the time needed to be professional
 This way you ensure that every word, every feature, every space you use works for your
purpose – and is aimed at getting the right reactions and results!
information response
time money

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The moment of truth:
take ownership be the judge here!
 Now take a look at your workplace writing (and maybe take a peek at colleagues’ writing
too!).
 What do you see?
- Consistent, correct and concise messages that people understand?
- Is your writing attractively and professionally set out? With the right tone?
 If yes, well done! If no, why not jot down know what you need to work on?

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Summary
1. Writing effective Business English across traditional and emerging channels, across
sectors, cultures, borders and generations is a skill that employers value highly
2. But without training it’s a big ask!
3. So master these points to boost your career success:
 Identify the right messages and communicate them correctly (right for
purpose/mistake-free)
 Write clearly in accessible language so your readers understand you
 Make sure your workplace writing is geared to results
 Write appropriately for the medium: make the right impact to get noticed for the right
reasons
Need further support? Here are some options to help you:
Buy self-help books here
E-mentoring or editing support services from Fiona Talbot:
www.wordpowerskills.com

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Thank you for reading this - and feel free to share
And finally…two words to write as often as you can at work (and elsewhere!)
The world over, manners are a free resource that can make all the difference!