SUNDAY LINEUP --- WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY? Communication Issues, Skills and Techniques AUTHOR:  Marie Davis, IDG Trainer/Speaker

In my writing classes, I’m often asked, “What’s the most important thing to remember when writing to someone?”  Always, always, always remember the most important thing you can do is ask, “How is my reader going to receive it?”

Have you ever sent an email and inadvertently started an email war?  When people read something, they do it through the filters of their background, experience, and current mood.  While we don’t know their current mood, we can prepare for their background and experience.

While we’re writing from our own perspective, because that’s what we are closest to.

Many business writing books will tell you that there are four reasons we write for business:  We write:

·      to ask for something
·      to give someone information
·      to provide directions or instructions
·      to document an event or meeting

To accomplish each of these, however, we have to persuade the reader.  That’s why we’re writing – to persuade.  Writing with persuasion will convince the reader:

·      to give us what we want
·      to accept our information
·      to follow our instructions
·      to accept our version of the events

A quick way to make sure you’re writing for the reader is to ask yourself “What would I think/feel/perceive if I read this message not knowing my point of view?

In the next few weeks, I’m going to address things to consider about your reader when you’re writing.  This one simple tool will make your business writing effective and productive.