The case for taking it seriously.
WHAT MOST WORK ACTUALLY CONSISTS OF
Persuading, informing and coordinating, mostly in writing.
WHY THAT IS TRUE MORE THAN EVER
Distributed work, messaging and email have replaced conversation.
WHAT POOR WRITING COSTS
Decisions delayed by clarification Meetings held to resolve what a paragraph would have Instructions misunderstood Proposals rejected for being unreadable Being judged less capable than you are
WHY THAT LAST ONE MATTERS MOST
Readers cannot see your thinking, only your expression of it.
WHAT GOOD WRITING ACHIEVES
Faster decisions Fewer meetings Fewer errors Credibility
WHAT IT IS NOT
Elegance, literary quality, or long words.
WHAT IT IS
Being understood quickly, and acted upon correctly.
WHAT THE TEST IS
Whether the reader knows what to do after reading.
WHY WRITING IS HARDER THAN SPEAKING
There is no tone, no expression, and no opportunity to correct in the moment.
WHAT THAT DEMANDS
More care, not less.
WHAT MOST PEOPLE GET WRONG
Writing to express rather than to be understood.
WHAT TO PRACTISE
Writing shorter.
WHY
It takes longer and works better.
