Step five, follow up. You are now in a position to communicate your document or email, and the final step is to decide and schedule in when you will follow up.
One of the fundamental principles of effective communication is less is more, more or less. So before sending your document, don't forget to review it and see if you can remove any unnecessary statements or words while still retaining the overall narrative.
Reading out your document aloud will help you spot anything that isn't quite right, and getting someone else to proof it for you will also help you spot issues you didn't notice yourself.
Here are some final top tips to maximize the impact of your business writing. One, if you are emailing then consider how you can grab the reader's attention in the subject bar. A quick question will not compel the recipient to read your email as quickly as a considerable profit opportunity will.
Two, avoid jargon and acronyms. You may think they make you look more credible but they can actually minimize the clarity and punch of your messaging.
Three, study the emails and documents you receive. Are they effective or not? What can you learn from what's impactful about the messages that you read? Four, break it up. Use paragraphs, subheadings, bullet points to break up your writing. Large slabs of texts rarely get read thoroughly because they look dense and uninviting.
Five, avoid dilution words, such as hopefully, try, might, and I think, as they can actually weaken the strength of your message. Be powerful with your language. I am confident that... For example. Or this is a great opportunity.
As with every skill, practice makes perfect. Whenever you can, get feedback from others about your business writing, and review your success or lack of in order to continuously improve. Remember, knowledge is not power but the skillful application of knowledge is. Good luck.
