No matter what you do or who you are, you need to write well. Think it’s not true? Then have a look at these examples and see if you still feel the same.
You want to look for a new job or there’s a promotion you can apply for at work – what do you think is going to impress your potential employers the most about you? Your clothes? Well, they might, but if you then write an application form that’s full of waffle and spelling mistakes he’s going to forget about your fancy suit pretty quickly. Not that your appearance is not important, but it must be paired with an ability to write well if you want to have a chance of being successful.
Or you’ve been asked to manage a local community project. It’s a big deal as the local church has trusted you with the job of getting the community garden into shape and you want to do well. before the project starts, the church has asked that you provide them with a report that details what you propose to do. To prevent any misunderstandings it’s vital that you are able to write in a way that’s clear, easy to follow and factually correct.
And, if you plan to start your own business, you’ll need to convince the bank manager, or whoever’s providing the money to get you started, that you know what you are talking about. Part of this is being able to deliver a great business plan, that’s professional and businesslike, which, of course, involves you being able to write effectively.
So how can you improve your writing skills? Well one way is to use the seven Cs of writing. These are clear, concise, concrete, correct, coherent, complete and courteous. So let’s look at what these mean in turn:
• Clear – you need to make sure that any writing you do is clear. There’s no point including details that are irrelevant to the reader or may confuse the situation.
• Concise – we’ve already touched on this in the first C. When you write, don’t include things that the reader doesn’t need to know. Keep it brief and to the point.
• Concrete – this refers to making your message solid so that the reader knows exactly what you are getting at. You should give key facts and figures, but don’t include too many or you risk overwhelming them.
• Correct – fairly obvious really, but it’s worth making a mental note to check that any detailed information you include in your writing is correct. This also relates to your use of the language too, so make sure you use spelling, punctuation and grammar correctly.
• Coherent – this can also be described as being logical. The points you make should be in a logical order with a flow to the writing – one points moves logically into the next. Don’t jump about from one point to another it’ll make for really difficult reading.
• Complete – make sure you put everything you need to in your writing and that you finish it off in an appropriate manner. Don’t leave the reader wanting… see how annoying it is?
• Courteous – always be polite as it projects the image that you are friendly, polite and honest. This is especially important if you are trying to earn yourself a new job or promotion, but it’s always good to be polite, no matter what the situation. You should always say please and thank you when it’s appropriate.
It might seem like this is a long list of things to think about. But, it’s going to be worth it as the better you make your communication the more you’ll improve your credibility amongst your colleagues, bosses, friends and family.
If you have any other tips about making your writing better, let me know.
