By the end of this course, delegates will be able to:

• Understand the key concepts of Business Writing
• Understand the communication process and barriers to communication, particularly in relation to the written word.
• Explore and understand best practice in the art of business writing, including business letters, memoranda, and reports.
• Explore the concepts of Presentation Skills in business writing
• Understand the critical need of preparation and planning in business writing
• Understand the concept of corporate image and corporate identity and role of business writing.

Participants will be guided through the course syllabus and will actively take part in numerous individual and group discussion, exercises, and role-play so that they will understand and practice their skills.

The Administrator as Leader

• Setting the direction for your office and team
• Choosing the right leadership styles for every situation

Module 1   an Overview on Written Business

• Introduction
• Discussion: What kinds of Business Writing do you do?

Exercise: Difficulties we face in our Business writing.

• Effective Business Writing
• Top Tips for Business Writing
• Six Rules of Good Communication
• The Advantages and Disadvantages of Written Communication.
• The Differences Between Written and Spoken English
• Knowing What Irritates Readers
• Exercise: Punctuation 1
• Major Blocks to Good Writing

Exercise: Spelling

Module 2 Style and Purpose

• General Principles of Good Writing
• The Five “C”s of Good Writing
• Five Golden Rules & Other General Tips
• Analyzing Your Purpose
• Analyzing the Reader’s Requirements and Expectations
• Positive v Negative Writing Styles
• Avoiding Common Mistakes
• Objective & Impersonality
• Exercise: Punctuating for Clarity

Exercise: Spelling test

Exercise: Using Colons and Semi-Colons

Module 3 External Business Letters and Faxes

• The Importance of First Impressions
• How Readers Read Letters
• Standard Elements of Letters
• The Opening, Development and Closing of the Message
• Setting the Right Tone
• Models for Common Types of Business Letters
• What is the Difference between a Letter and a Fax?
• Guidelines for Effective e-mailing

Exercise: Writing in Paragraphs

Exercise: Writing in Sentences 1 

Module 4 Internal Memos and Emails

• The Flexible Memo
• Improving Your Memo Image
• Structuring Your Memo
• Choosing an Appropriate Memo Style
• Guidelines for Effective Emails

Exercise: Writing a short Report

Exercise: Using the Apostrophe

Module 5 Reports – What Are They?

• A Guide to Report Writing
• Types of Report
• Why Do We Write Them?
• Three Common Misconceptions About Writing
• What Distinguishes a Good Report from a Bad one?
• Audience-Orientation and Understanding
• Individual Assignment: Writing a one-page report

Module 6 Review Action Planning

• What are you going to put into Action?
• Discussion on current Business Writing in Our Company