Business Writing Skills

In the Information Age, one of the key skills all staff need to develop is that of clear, judicious writing. Our interface with clients, colleagues, suppliers and shareholders is driven by the written word. In South Africa we have the added challenge in operating in English in most business environments while it is not the Mother Tongue of approximately 95% of our population.

My merely considering the volume of e-mails most managers need to sift through on a daily basis, the value of communicating with impact becomes immediately apparent.

This course is designed to develop and improve the quality, content, structure and strategy followed when compiling documents and writing professional messages. It is a practical course that emphasises skills practice and implementation.

George Orwell's rules for reversing the decline of the English Language:

Never use a figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
Never use a long word when a short word will do.
If it is possible to cut out a word, always cut it out.
Never use the passive when you can use the active.
Never use a foreign phrase, scientific word or jargon if there is an everyday English equicalent.
Break any of the rules above rather than writing anything horrible or insulting.

Learning Objectives

To develop a better understanding of the different types of written communication as well as how and when to use them. This includes reports, minutes, notices, memos, submissions, e-mails, agendas and business letters.
To practice your writing skills through a number of practical writing exercises.
To improve your business English through improved grammar, document and sentence structuring and editing.
To explore the writing process from gathering data to editing documents.
To build understanding on how to evaluate the clarity of your communication.
To develop a new attitude towards writing tasks.
To become skilled in the art of judicious communication.

Duration

This programme lasts for 1 to 3 days, depending on client needs and programme level.

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More about us

Our address

Treetops

79/1 Erasmus Avenue,
Centurion
0157
Phone: (+27) 12 666-8093
Fax: (+27) 12 666-8095
E-Mail: info@treetops.co.za