4 Simple Ways to Improve Your Ineffective Business Writing

Professionals deal with a lot of correspondence on the job. That means having strong verbal and written communication skills is a must. Many employees are great at their jobs, but lack certain business writing skills necessary to enhance productivity. As a manager, it’s always a good idea to empower staff with the training they need to do their jobs better, and business writing seminars are a great way to start. Getting rid of ineffective business writing should be one of your priorities as the boss.

It’s beneficial for today’s organizations to recognize how integral communication is to growth. Improving procedures and policies for successful operations is key, and it may be time to equip employees with new skills to perform their roles and responsibilities to the best of their abilities.

Here are four ways to improve ineffective business writing for a more positive and functional work environment:

1. Begin with clear and concise language
   Too many metaphors or other figures of speech can make for a hard read and not communicate an important message as well as it should, according to Forbes magazine. Instead, professionals should use clear and concise language that is easy to understand by all readers.
2. Don’t roll your eyes when it comes to grammar, use it properly
   I get it … just the word, “grammar,” makes some people roll their eyes thinking back to elementary school English lessons. But let’s be honest, even if your reader can’t recite a single grammar rule, he or she probably can spot bad grammar a mile away. Always proofread, because grammatical errors are not only a dead giveaway of poor writing skills, but they can cause confusion. Forbes says to use active voice, avoid jargon, be aware of proper parts of speech and stay away from common errors such as mixing up “effect” and “affect,” or “that” and “which.”
3. Simplify explanations
   Cut out any unnecessary phrases, colloquialisms and other such copy that doesn’t add to the effectiveness of a message. Adverbs, too much punctuation, passive voice, colloquialisms and slang don’t play a part in proper business writing.
4. Don’t do it on your own, try online resources
   If unsure of grammar rules or the proper spelling of a word, turn to the various resources available to address the matter, says The Houston Chronicle. Training services can help develop strong writing skills and educate employees on proper styles.