Previous articles about workplace writing in ‘Communicate Confidently!‘ have discussed the all-important Pre-Write phase: Plan What You Write. You ask four defining questions about each document before you start writing:
Workplace Writing
Do Your Emails Suck?
Your routine workplace emails might suck if you ignore the reality that every note you send a customer, colleague or manager can project your image of professionalism, competency and courtesy — or detract from it. So, if you don’t want your emails to suck, just avoid these worst practices:
Always Break the Rules!
This ‘WordPower’ feature deals with some rules of grammar and which ones you should consider breaking if you want to enhance your routine workplace writing.
Clarity & Brevity – They Both Rule! (6/20)
If you’ve begun thinking more about the words you use in routine workplace communication and presentations – that’s a good thing. No need to thank me … it’s my pleasure.
Do Your Emails Suck?
Your routine workplace emails might suck if you ignore the reality that every note you send a customer, colleague or manager can project your image of professionalism, competency and courtesy — or detract from it.
Give Your Readers a Break
A very effective Reader-Centric strategy for your workplace writing is to make it very easy for your readers to read, understand and act on your messages.
Clarity & Brevity Both Rule!
Some of you have begun thinking more about the words you use in routine workplace writing. If you identified lots of word choice habits, also good. If you asked yourself why you used a particular word or phrase and weren’t happy with your answers, then get ready to rock & roll. Many of you will benefit from some lessons learned on the journey towards more reader-centric word choices.
Communicating with Millennials
While Millennials have some generation-specific communication preferences, they have a lot more in common with other generations than differences, except for their use of technology. If communicating with them in your workplace presents a challenge, here are five ways to resonate with your 30-somethings readers or listeners.
Resistance is Futile
(A reader favorite from my archive of the COSE ‘Mind Your Business’ eLetter.)
In his still frightening classic dystopian novel, ‘1984’, George Orwell invented ‘NewSpeak’, the official language of Oceania, used to control communication and thought.
WordPower – Your Laughable Redundancies
We’ve gotten into some sloppy habits regarding redundancy. While this tendency may not be a major problem in verbal or written communication, it does waste words and the result is often amusing. Unless you’re a comedian, you probably don’t want people chuckling about what you say or write. So, here are some reminders: