By Dr. Gary S. Goodman
Wouldn't you agree that business writing has exploded during the past decade?Who doesn't spend a significant amount of time sending and receiving emails?
Web sites depend on the written word. Graphics are secondary to the all important textual messages businesses are trying to get across.
Memos, advertising, press releases, training and employee manuals, performance appraisals, and other documents all need to be composed and read.
With these tasks in mind you can see when you add all of today's opportunities to communicate through the written word, they are multiplying rapidly. It makes sense to improve one's capabilities in every significant way.
I'm going to suggest a benchmark, a simple three-part standard for evaluating your writing skills and those of others.
Ask yourself: Are your compositions: Clear? Convincing? Cost Effective? (Economical?) If so, you're in great shape.
If not. There's work to do.
Though speechwriters and public relations specialists can be found in the largest firms, most companies can't afford "designated writers." This function is shared by all, making it crucial that skills be enhanced across jobs and functional units.
How much could your company save and earn through more effective writing? How many inefficiencies, misunderstandings and lawsuits could be avoided through greater clarity, alone?
It's time to perform a writing audit, to find out.
Examine each contact point, internally and externally, where people are linked through the written word. Ask whether these texts are doing everything they can do to promote productivity.
Select those that offer the best leverage for improvement.
Fix them first, using the Three C's as your standard for evaluation.
Dr. Gary S. Goodman is a top speaker, negotiation consultant, attorney, real estate broker, TV and radio commentator and the best-selling author of 12 books, including SIX-FIGURE CONSULTING: HOW TO HAVE A GREAT SECOND CAREER. He is the creator of Nightingale-Conant's successful audio seminar: THE LAW OF LARGE NUMBERS: HOW TO MAKE SUCCESS INEVITABLE. He conducts seminars and convention presentations around the world and can be reached at: gary@customersatisfaction.com
His original class, "Best Practices in Negotiation," is offered at UCLA & UC Berkeley Extension and at a number of other fine universities and organizations.
