Business Skills
Business Writing Essentials
Overview
The ability to write clearly and effectively is a critical business skill. Learn to plan, organise and structure business communication. Through practical application of writing and editing, participants will learn to write clear, readable documents.
Who Should Attend
This couse is suitable for people wanting to improve their writing skills for work documents.
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this course
Benefits of Completing This Course
● Adjust writing style to suit the requirements of the topic and the reader
● Plan, draft, sequence and structure written communications
● Choose appropriate words for the type of document
● Write crisp, clear sentences
Inclusions
- Training Manual with step-by-step instructions
- Practice files relevant to the training material
- Training Completed files - you are free to take away any completed files for review
- Unlimited online support, as training doesn't stop when you walk out our door
Learning Outcomes
● Plan the structure of a document to ensure correct information flow
● Produce concise letters, memos, emails and reports
● Review and proofread written communications for appropriate style,
correct and appropriate language
● Review written communications for sequence structure, and readability
● Write communications in the style required by your workplace and
appropriate for your audience.
Topics Covered
Why Write
● Document mediums - letters, memos, emails, and general reports
● Reasons for writing
● Message and purpose
Understanding the Message
● Learn to contextualise the style of writing to support the message being communicated.
● Good news and bad news
● Letters of complaint
● Responses to complaints
● Letters to inform or to persuade
Principles of Communication
● Voice and tone
● Modern business language
● Structure
● Evidence
● Write to express, not to impress
Effective Writing
● In this sesion participants cover the fundamentals of written communication and practice each in writing exercises.
● The four C's of writing
● Effective sentences and paragraphs
● Use of punctuation and grammar
● Singular or plural
● Making words agree
● Using modifiers
● Guidelines for effective writing
Voice
● Most people prefer to read writing that is in an active voice as it promotes clarity. This session covers the difference between active and passive voice and considers specific instances where passive voice may be preferable.
● Active and passive voice in writing
Planning & Writing a First Draft
● Defining the purpose
● Identifying the audience
● Understanding the context
● Format
● Supporting evidence
● Constructing a framework
● Mapping
● Using plain English and eliminating wordiness
Sentences and Paragraphs
● Sentences - Simple - Compound - Complex
● Using paragraphs
● Readability index
● Punctation
Layout and Design
● In this session, you will review work related documents and evaluate and edit the content.
● Sample layouts of various document mediums
● Writing business letters
● Writing to inform
● Writing to persuade
● Writing to deliver good news
● Writing to deliver bad news
● Letters of complaint
● Responding to a complaint
● Email etiquette
● Briefing notes
Guidelines to proofing
● Proof reading is essential. This session helps participants to identify common spelling errors and provides practical proof reading skills.
● General tips in proofing and editing
Live online - learn by doing.
Our Live Online courses are conducted through a dedicated learning platform that enables us to provide instructor-led, hands-on training to develop real skills, in real time. Each participant logs into their own virtual environment set up specifically for the course. This is a fully interactive experience - just like in a classroom. No passive lectures, no videos to follow - real-time, hands-on practice with your instructor guiding you every step.
Instructor
- Provides real-time, live hands-on instruction and demonstration
- Provides step-by-step practical activities for participants
- Can assist participants on their screen, if necessary
- Can share participant screens to enhance discussion
Participants
- Receive hands-on instruction, step-by-step exercises and skill-builder activities
- See the instructor's screen while working in their own environment
- Can interact with the instructor and the group of participants
- Can ask questions at any time
- Join the course from any location with internet, using a course invitation
- No need for any software - just a computer with internet and a browser
- No downloads or installs necessary on the participant's computer
Inclusions
- E-Book Training Manual / activity booklet provided
- Certificate of Completion
- Post-course support to the level of the course
- Access to any training exercises used during the session
Session Times
- Full Day Course: 9:00am - 4:30pm
- Half Day Course: 9:00am - 12:30pm or 1:30pm - 5:00pm
Private sessions are booked exclusively for your team and can be facilitated as Live Online group training, or in a Classroom / Face-to-Face setting at your workplace or another organised location. Content and duration can be tailored to your needs - contact our Course Scheduling team to discuss your requirements.
Classroom / Face-to-Face
Classroom sessions are delivered at a nominated location, available for Private courses only.
Requirements (if training is delivered at your site)
- No individual computers are required for participants - this course is discussion, activity and workbook-based
- The instructor will bring their own laptop - please provide power
- A screen or projector for the trainer to connect their laptop to (please indicate the connection method - HDMI or Wi-Fi)
Inclusions
- Training Manual / activity booklet
- Certificate of Completion
- Post-course support for queries relating to the course content
Get in touch with our Course Scheduling team to arrange a private session or confirm delivery options for a specific date.