This week, I’m teaching a workshop called “Communication for Consultants and Engineers,” focused on the challenges of communicating via email and texting, rather than face-to-face. Since an email doesn’t include the nonverbal signals (eye contact, vocal tone, body language) that constitute 80% of communication, we must be even more careful about how we construct our messages.
In my workshop, I emphasize several key communications challenges that business people face today:
- Understanding and imagining the client’s point of view—what the client’s priorities are, what they’re sensitive about, and how to present a message whose content and whose importance the client can instantly grasp. Your information, even if you’re delivering bad news, must be presented with a “Can Do” attitude: Not “here’s what’s broken,” but “here are my solutions to the problems.”
- Knowing what your core message is, and stating it clearly up front. Composing a clear message takes time. Consider: How much background do you need to include? How technical should the message be? How can you ensure that your audience shares your understanding of the next steps that need to be taken?
- Using correct business writing. Correct grammar, business etiquette, and tone convey your professionalism, thoroughness, and competence. The English language demands nuances of subject-verb agreement, correct use of tense, and overall grammatical consistency. By using correct sentence and paragraph structure, you convey your attention to detail and commitment to clarity. In contrast, ignoring them sends the message that you simply don’t care enough to communicate clearly and accurately.
If your written communications aren’t achieving the results you desire, contact me at ruth@biznarrative.com and schedule a customized communication workshop. I can also be reached at 510-338-0241.
