How to Improve Your Business Communication
Posted September 26th, 2016
People write all the time for their jobs – research, memos, proposals, presentations, email. You may think your business writing is good, but is it as effective as it could be? What makes writing good, and how can you make yours better?
It may not be something you give a lot of thought to, but its importance should not be underestimated. Being able to express yourself well can be the difference in getting business and advancing in your career.
So, how can you write better? Experts say good writing is simple, clear and direct. Clear writing means clear thinking. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
1. Know what you want to say.
Often, writing coaches say, people just dive in and start writing without a clear idea of what they want to say. As a result, their writing becomes jumbled, harder to understand. So, before you begin writing, take a few moments to think about what exactly you want to say. What information or point are you trying to get across?
2. Get to the point immediately
People often begin their writing with something that writing instructors call “throat clearing.” This is simply filler as the person builds up to what they really want to say. If you are throat clearing, simply remove the filler so that your main point is at the top. Be direct – get to the main point right away.
3. Keep it simple
In other words, don’t use more words than you need to. Wordiness is something to always be on the lookout for. If you can cut out extra words that add nothing to your meaning, do it.
4. Cut the jargon and big words
You may think this makes you sound more informed or intelligent, but odds are these words are just getting in the way of clear writing. Again, keep it simple – don’t use a $60 word when a ten-cent one will do.
5. Read what you wrote
Look over what you have written, putting yourself in the place of your reader. Are there gaps, things left out, statements that will raise questions in your reader’s mind? Have you written too much or too little? Is your piece easily understood?
If you are looking for work in the San Francisco Bay area, Bayside Solutions can help you. We specialize in technology-related fields, so we know what these employers want and how to find the right job for you. Give Bayside Solutions a call today.
