WRITTEN COMMUNICATION

Written Communication

Overview

Business managers use written communication every day. Opportunities for written communication in the business world include everything from reports, memos, and documentation to emails, instant messaging, and social media. Effective written communication can help build and grow business relationships, accelerate results, solicit input and feedback, and rally personnel toward shared goals. Your ability to write messages that are clear and concise, while positioned strategically and presented professionally, will distinguish you in your field.

In this assignment, you will develop a written communication for the challenge or opportunity scenario you have identified. The written message needed to fulfill this assignment will depend on your scenario.

Instructions

Compose a written communication based on your Strategic Communications Plan.

Part 1

1. Develop your written communication.
   
   
   
   1. State your key message clearly.
      
      
      
      1. Do not "bury the headline"—the main point should be presented directly.
      
      
      2. Your key message must be clear and concise.
      
      
      
      
   
   
   2. Provide the necessary information and build credibility.
      
      
      
      1. Provide an appropriate amount of background information for the audience, given the type of communication.
      
      
      2. Get to the point without unnecessary verbiage.
      
      
      3. Build your position as an expert or trusted colleague.
      
      
      
      
   
   
   3. Support your key message with three or four supporting points or reasons.
      
      
      
      1. Supporting points should be appropriate for the context and needs of the audience.
      
      
      2. Reasons should be compelling and relevant.
      
      
      
      
   
   
   4. Employ either the tell/sell or consult/join techniques.
   
   
   5. Clearly relay to the audience an actionable request.
   
   
   
   


2. Write professionally.
   
   
   
   1. Communication should be clear and concise.
   
   
   2. Communication should build logically.
   
   
   3. Sentences should flow smoothly, using appropriate transitions and varying sentence structure.
   
   
   4. Employ appropriate formatting for ease of reading and clarity of message (headers, bullet points, etc.).
   
   
   
   


3. Demonstrate professional presence.
   
   
   
   1. Be authentic and genuine in your communication.
   
   
   2. Use the appropriate tone and vocabulary for your audience.
   
   
   3. Establish rapport to connect with your audience and grow the relationship.
   
   
   
   

Part 2

1. Channel and style.
   
   
   
   1. Explain why you chose the specific channel you used for the written communication.
   
   
   2. Explain what style you employed in your written communication (tell/sell, consult/join) and why.
   
   
   
   


2. Use feedback to refine your communication.
   
   
   
   1. Describe or list the feedback you received on your written communication from the Week 7 discussion.
   
   
   2. Explain how you used the feedback to revise and improve your message.
   
   
   
   

This course requires the use of Strayer Writing Standards. For assistance and information, please refer to the Strayer Writing Standards link in the left-hand menu of your course. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.

The specific course learning outcome associated with this assignment is:

• Compose a written communication based on a strategic communications plan.