Report Writing for Business

SUITABLE FOR:

Employees who need to improve their skills in writing business reports, letters and internal memos.

OBJECTIVES:

By the end of the course, delegates will be able:-

• Consider the objectives of a written document in relation to the needs of the targeted audience.
• Construct a report plan for formal communications relating to the type of report.
• Explain the importance of good grammar, spelling, punctuation and logical content flow.
• Demonstrate improved language selection to minimise confusion and maximise reader comprehension.
• Demonstrate ways of "sparking up" a report or memo.

SUMMARY:

Our ability to communicate effectively in writing to colleagues, staff supervisors or customers is critical, especially in a large and changing company. Poor skills in this area results in, confusion mis- understandings, errors and loss of credibility. This course looks at the common difficulties associated with written communications and provides you with very practical guidelines on how to improve. The topics to be covered include:-

Day One
Types of Communication in business

• Memos
• Letters
• Report
• Meeting summaries and minutes
• What are the choices in communications?
• Defining the Purpose of Written Communication
• The need to identify the readership and the objective
• Gathering the information
• What makes a report good?
• Case study
• Group exercise

Day Two
Methods of planning and structuring information into an appropriate format

• Video - The Art of Writing a Good Report
• Formats for business reports
• Structure and layout - preparation and planning
• Focusing communication and avoiding digression
• Emphasising key information
• Empathy
• Achieving reader goodwill through the effective presentation of the document
• Exercise
• Case study

Day Three
The production of 'readable' results

• Spelling
• Grammar
• Punctuation
• Readability
• Using language effectively
• Words and phrases
• Editing for accuracy, conciseness and clarity
• Active or passive voice
• Illustrating reports with visual aids