Introduction to Business and Report Writing Training

The benefits to the writer

• Enhancing your professional image
• Improving career choice

The business writing process

• Breaking writing down into a clear process
• Scheduling tasks for completion

Adapting to audience needs

• Contextualizing your writing
• Eliminating barriers between you and your readers

Leveraging different communication styles

• Deciphering clues to style preferences
• Responding and relating well to your readers

Identifying the macro structure of business documents

• Handling the business document paradox
• Classifying different types of business documents

Developing the micro structure template

• Recognizing key topics
• Structuring raw material
• Organizing information to highlight gaps

Recognizing the business impact

• Defining the criteria for a quality business document
• Identifying the business impact of the problem
• Demonstrating the value of confronting the situation

Recommending solutions

• Conducting effective research
• Applying decision-making criteria
• Tying your recommendation to the organization's mission

Facilitating your readers' understanding

• Managing paragraphs using topic sentences
• Incorporating your readers' words
• Avoiding synonyms

Ordering your information

• Writing effective headings
• Reducing inferential load
• Structuring sentences to signal benefits

Honing your writing to improve persuasiveness

• Tying your writing to the decision-making process
• Making credible claims
• Avoiding oversimplification
• Influencing your audience to value your ideas
• Creating an effective Executive Summary

Presenting information

• Improving bulleted lists by showing words in tables
• Highlighting alternatives to aid rapid decision-making
• Prioritizing business solutions
• Countering opposition

Writing clearly

• Prioritizing your subject
• Optimizing word choice
• Differentiating between active vs. passive voice
• Eliminating pronouns and modifiers

Writing concisely

• Choosing a style appropriate for audience and context
• Revising to heighten impact

A professional approach to e-mail

• Respecting readers' time, interest and ability to focus
• Extinguishing flame wars
• Crafting relevant subject lines