0The large amount of text that organisations produce today with all the seas of memos and the stack of reports one receives on an annual basis. Then there are those countless e-mails, presentations and plans that are written. Business writing, the process by which such texts are created, is a pervasive activity within any organisation.
This internal dialogue - much like the human brain that spends most of its energy talking to itself - has tremendous impact on an organisation’s ability to compete. Good business writing captures knowledge, aligns people with the organisation’s strategy.
Good writing is essentially built on through preparation and disciplined execution. This means that anyone can learn to write at a reasonable level of proficiency. A few pointers given below -
Clarity
Find the essence of your story, make it self-evident, describe it simply and economically, structure it logically and make the whole thing flow.
Humility
Be humble while writing and editing. Critically judge your work, recognise dissenting views, avoid spin doctoring, be genuine.
Structure
Use sequence, consistency, guidance and balance to build a structure that guides your reader though the text.
Focus
Adjust the scope and scale of your writing to influence the attitude and behaviour of your readers. Develop a brief and outline, execute these consistently.
Purpose
Identify the purpose of what you are writing about and connect it to your readers’ values, beliefs and ambitions. Avoid buzzwords, embrace relationships and use sensory language.
Meaning
Be precise in your use of language. Do not write what something is, explain what it means to people and the organisation.
Substance
Empower and respect your readers by allowing them to critically evaluate your claims. Elaborate or provide verifiable proof, ideally from independent outsiders.
