Effective communication has always been an important factor in career success, and the role of writing is more important today that ever before. The ability to write is one of the most important communication skills in the modern business world. Because so much business communication takes place via written methods of communication, writing skills are essential in virtually every field.
While it's true that some people are naturally talented when it comes to writing, it's a fact that writing skills can be learned. You don't have to be a creative writing guru to create professional business documentation. Effective business writing involves the proper use of grammar, language, tone, and style. These skills can be improved with proper training and practice.
5 Reasons to Brush Up Your Business Writing Skills
There are many reasons to focus on improving your writing skills, particularly if career advancement is something that you are striving to accomplish.
1. Increasing Role of Writing in the Workplace
Historically, writing was viewed as a very formal type of workplace communication, taking the form of letters, reports, and other detailed documentation. Today, a great deal of customer and co-worker communication takes place via e-mail, instant messenger, text messages, and more. Many times, modern workers engage in written communication more than spoken interactions.
2. Writing Skills Reflect Professionalism
It's a fact that there's a strong association between writing skills and professionalism. People who are able to write clear, concise, and effective business messages tend to be viewed more favorably in the workplace than those who are less skilled in this area. To be seen as competent, the written messages that you create need to reflect both solid substance and proper form.
3. Improved Communication Accuracy
Many misunderstandings occur as a result of writing problems. Those who are not able to write clearly often convey messages that they don't intend to send, simply because syntax problems alter the literal meaning of what they are trying to say. Choosing the right words and using the proper sentence structure can greatly reduce the possibility that messages you send are misinterpreted.
4. Consideration for Promotions
The higher you move up in an organization, the more likely it is that you will be responsible for producing formal documents on behalf of the company. Those who hold high level positions are often responsible for creating customer proposals, writing employee evaluations, responding to requests for information from regulatory agencies, and other important forms of documentation. If you haven't demonstrated a proven ability to write effectively throughout your career, you might find yourself being overlooked for promotional opportunities.
5. Writing Is a Necessity in the 21st Century Workplace
In virtually every profession, being able to write well is a necessity. Technological advances have had the greatest impact on how we communicate, and have placed an increased emphasis on writing skills for professionals in all fields. One of the most important investments you can make in yourself, and in your future career success, is to take the time to learn how to write effective business messages.
Mary G. White, M.A., SPHR is the Training Coordinator for Mobile Technical Institute & MTI Business Solutions, where she specializes in human resources, management, and marketing training. She teaches open enrollment classes for MTI, provides on-site corporate training, and frequently speaks at conferences and association meetings. To register in MTI's next Business Writing Basics class, see bizwritingbasics.eventbrite.com or call 251-478-6848 to schedule a private training session for your company or association. MTI also provides a variety of consulting services, including IT Training, certification testing, HR consulting services, custom database development and website solutions.