Training Products / Solutions

Writing for Impact

Background

Writing for Impact is a combination of programs I’ve been certified to deliver and my own design, based on my extensive background and writing skills.

My former role as a business English instructor at Sinclair Community College and other institutions gave me a solid foundation in writing, and I have always enjoyed teaching writing skills to others. Many of the writing and grammar rules that we learned in school have changed, and I have kept abreast of those changes and incorporate them into the program. Because of the public and private schools’ de-emphasis on grammar and writing, many people in the business community are unsure of their skill level and avoid writing as much as possible.

As a facilitator contractor for the Holt Company in New York, I am certified in a program from Covey called “The Writing Advantage.” I taught this program and another writing course that emphasized grammar for Chase Finance and other Holt clients. I’ve also delivered a writing course called Proofamatics, but I prefer more emphasis on writing and grammar.

Overview

We all know what good writing is. It’s the novel we can’t put down, the poem we never forgot, and the speech that changes the way we look at the world. Good writing is the memo that gets action and the letter that says what a phone call can’t. In today’s fast-paced business environment, emails and text messages have replaced longer documents, but they must still be clear and concise.

In business writing, the language should be concrete, the point of view clear, and the points should be well expressed. Good writing is hard work, and even the best writers get discouraged. However, with practice everyone can feel more confident about his or her own writing.

Whenever we communicate we say three things:

something about your message
something about your reader
something about you

When we write well, we are saying that we have thought about our message, we have taken the time to understand the reader, and we have conveyed a positive image of ourselves. Finally, when we write well, we improve the bottom line. How? We save time, frustration and inconvenience--all of which represent costs to you and your organization.

Objectives of Writing for Impact

To learn the value and importance of good written communication
To review language skills, either through an online program offered as pre-work or one day of review and practice in the classroom (preferred)
To learn how to write and proofread your work so it is clear, concise, complete, and correct
To learn how to create, plan, design, draft, and revise a document
To review and improve your email practices and writing skills
To apply your writing skills in real world situations

Table of Contents - Participant Workbook

Learning Objectives
Writing More Effectively
The Four C’s of Communication
Language Skills Review and Skills Practice
How to Plan, Design, Draft, and Revise a Document
Spelling Review
Writing Effective Letters Reports and Other Documents
Email Essentials
Appendix

Training Delivery

Writing for Impact Is a one-day program without language skills review. If language skills review and practice are offered, this becomes a two-day program (recommended). The 16 hours of instruction can also be offered in half-day sessions or two-three hour sessions, depending on the client’s preference.

A follow-up session, several weeks after the training, is recommended to learn more about how the skills are being used and any problems that have been encountered. Managers of trainees are invited to join the session to provide support and feedback.

Train-the-Trainer for this program is feasible or Henson Associates can provide facilitation services.

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