How Better Writing Makes it Easier to Take Decisions.
Too often reading stuff for work is dull. Worse, it’s a poor use of time (money) and emotional effort.
Readers are sent 90+ pages for the next Board meeting. Or a many-slide powerpoint crammed with text. Or a long-winded email that doesn’t seem to get to the point. They'’re bombarded with detail and nuance, but can’t seem to find the nub of the problem, or the question that needs answering.
They get something like this:
In September 2022 the New Product team was tasked with investigating a GTM strategy for Product X. We reviewed the previous reports from BoHab and considered tactical regional options for EMEA and APAC, alongside impact opportunities, revenue schedules, internal strategic decision-making postures and the alternative options that have been reviewed by the Board and internal sub-committees
Yawn! This sort of writing makes it hard to take confident decisions.
The reader is bored already. This background is not useful here. It’s either information they already know, or it’s detail that they don’t need so early on. It can safely be moved to later in the paper.
It happens because writers need to look expert. They want to be convincing, so they bring all their knowledge to the document. They start at the beginning and keep going till they’ve explained everything they know, in detail.
It’s possible to look expert by starting with the question. And writing less. This engages readers and gets them to think about their response, rather than what they’re having for lunch. When readers have confidence in writers, they think of them as expert.
Readers want something to the point. Like this:
This report recommends investing £20m in bringing Product X to market next year. It will outline the market for Product X, how we got to the cost, the principles we used and other options we considered
This is better. It has a clear ask of money and time.
It then explains what’s coming up. It’s easier to take decisions if the writing is to the point.
Are your writers producing reams? Are your readers inundated? Is the Board is giving random feedback? Are your experts frustrated? We can help. We can change the reading experience at work and make it easier to take decisions. We understand what’s going on linguistically and how to fix it.
Our Writing Coaching shows writers how to look expert without long, complicated documents (or sentences!). And then your readers can make decisions with confidence.
How we make writing (and reading) better.
We’ll speak to readers, the Board or senior team about their frustrations.
We talk to writers and experts about the pressures of giving enough information and counsel.
We create a programme that fits your organisation.
We introduce our Reader, Order, Story, Edit framework. This gives structure and focus to your organisational writing.
Reader – what do they want and need to know?
Order – get the clear ask upfront and structure your paper before writing.
Story - Work on the detail. Give proof and supporting evidence.
Edit - so you sounds expert. Writing tips that keep your reader engaged.
We work alongside your writing teams on their live documents. Giving feedback and ideas as their paper develops.
Let’s make your organisation’s ideas easier to read, write and share.
