The ability to write with clarity and precision is a superpower for any business leader. Coming up with correspondence that adequately addresses your business needs in any given situation is pivotal to success in business. In this article, I will share three tips to help you sharpen your business writing skills.
Make it about your Audience: you need to write with the consciousness that all you do is about your audience – your choice of words, analysis, references, data, infographics and the like must be tailored to fit the make-up of your audience. Unnecessarily complex correspondence serves no profitable purpose in business communication.
Make it brief: the genius of effective business communication is expressed in brevity and correctness. Reports have shown that humans’ attention span is no longer what it used to be. Your audience’s attention is dwindling by the day; you must learn to write with as few words as possible. Cut down on long winding sentences, remove words that serve no meaningful purpose and write more in an active voice.
Make it inclusive: inclusivity grants you access to a wider audience. When you write for business purposes, you must ensure to anticipate and include all your readers. Your choice of expressions must be understandable to all and should not be offensive. Substitute those specific acronyms for universal ones and define all terms to enhance clarity and accessibility.
Writing is an important linchpin in the business communication toolbox; every business leader must strive to improve their writing skills to effectively inform or persuade their audience.