Business Writing Skills

Purpose

Each person in business needs to communicate effectively with customers, colleagues and suppliers. This includes understanding the role played by technology in communication.

The purpose of this programme is:

1. to promote clear, unambiguous, appropriate communication in plain language
2. to improve the quality of written and spoken communication in a business environment
3. to create an awareness of the impact of non-verbal communication and how it can be successfully used in the business environment
4. to create an understanding and knowledge of the unwritten rules of excellent communication; be able to interpret individuals' body language and regulate own consciously to communicate effectively
5. to identify barriers to communication and find appropriate solutions
6. to find ways of improving communication with internal and external customers.
7. to produce powerful letters, reports, e-mails, agenda & minutes to meetings, proposals & other applications within the workplace and write with knowledge of industry norms

Target group

Staff who write reports, proposals, and use email. Delivery and content is adapted to the level and needs of the delegates. For maximum effectiveness, no more than 15 delegates are accommodated per programme.

Methodology

Our facilitators use PowerPoint visual presentations, international best practice videos, role-play, and case studies. The programme is participative. A certificate of attendance is awarded upon completion of the programme and assessment against SAQA Unit Standards can be arranged separately.

Outline

Module 1: Introduction: What is communication?

Assessment of your communication skills

How appearance and behaviour combine to add to the total communication

The need for effective communication

Module 2: Barriers to effective communication

1. Listening skills
2. Conflict, confusion, failure, politics
3. Perception and interpretation
4. Jargon
5. Culture
6. Body language (non-verbal cues)

Module 3: Writing skills & Context

• Topic & reader
• Planning the creative process
• Appropriate structure & lay-out (format)of written text
• Research, information & first draft
• Generate and analyse recommendations
• Style, tone, grammar & syntax of communication
• Steps in editing the final product

Conclusion and application