Business Communication for

Career Readiness
High Impact Business Writing
Module 1

with Sue Robins, M.S.

Lesson 1: Audience
Learning Objectives
 Lesson 1: Audience
Learning Objectives
• Learn how to ensure the reader
acknowledges the value in reading your
document
 Lesson 1: Audience
Learning Objectives
• Learn how to ensure the reader
acknowledges the value in reading your
document
• Know how tone and style of
language affect the
reader’s perception of
your meaning
 Lecture 1: Audience
Learning Objectives
• Learn how to ensure the reader
acknowledges the value in reading your
document
• Know how tone and style of
language affect the
reader’s perception of
your meaning
• Learn strategies for
ensuring the audience is able
to understand your message
• Think about your
goals and
responsibilities
• Think about your
goals and
responsibilities

• Remember your
reader has lots of
content to read
Your Job as a Writer…
Your Job as a Writer…
• Prove the value of your
document quickly
Starting your Document
Starting your Document
1. Get right to the point
Starting your Document
1. Get right to the point
• Be polite, professional and focused
Starting your Document
1. Get right to the point
• Be polite, professional and focused

2. Make reading the material easy

Starting your Document
1. Get right to the point
• Be polite, professional and focused

2. Make reading the material easy

• Be clear, efficient and enjoyable
• Be personable and friendly
• Avoid overly formal language
Starting your Document
1. Get right to the point
• Be polite, professional and focused

2. Make reading the material easy

• Be clear, efficient and enjoyable
• Be personable and friendly
• Avoid overly formal language

3. Think about your audience

Starting your Document
1. Get right to the point
• Be polite, professional and focused
2. Make reading the material easy
• Be clear, efficient and enjoyable
• Be personable and friendly
• Avoid overly formal language
3. Think about your audience
• Tailor your message appropriately
 Who are you writing to?
• The reader’s role in the organization or the
relationship
• Value to reader
 Be clear about what they need to know

Find out the manager’s perspective on topic

Writing for Senior Managers

Ask questions about what they expect

Review similar documents

Find the manager’s content expectations

Address primary concerns and questions

 Writing for Large and
Diverse Audiences

• Write for general public (well-educated,

but not knowledgeable on the topic)
Tips for General Audience
Writing

• Be respectful, clear and

concise
Tips for General Audience
Writing

• Be respectful, clear and

concise
• Write like you are
updating team member
Tips for General Audience
Writing

• Be respectful, clear and

concise
• Write like you are
updating team member
• Avoid “tech-speak”
 Point of View

• Use the Reader’s

Point of View
• Say something
valuable
• Judge clarity
 Tips for Tone
• Be likable and sound natural
• Avoid casualisms
• Avoid being overly formal and wordy
• Use names and personal pronouns
• Include courtesies
• State arguments positively
• Avoid sarcasm
• Use active voice
• Express goodwill by exhibiting concern
for reader’s viewpoint
• Assume their goodwill and cooperation
• Be judicious with use of humor
 Tips for Tone
• Be likable and sound natural
• Avoid casualisms
• Avoid being overly formal and wordy
• Use names and personal pronouns
• Include courtesies
• State arguments positively
• Avoid sarcasm
• Use active voice
• Express goodwill by exhibiting concern
for reader’s viewpoint
• Assume their goodwill and cooperation
• Be judicious with use of humor
 Tips for Tone
• Be likable and sound natural
• Avoid casualisms
• Avoid being overly formal and wordy
• Use names and personal pronouns
• Include courtesies
• State arguments positively
• Avoid sarcasm
• Use active voice
• Express goodwill by exhibiting concern
for reader’s viewpoint
• Assume their goodwill and cooperation
• Be judicious with use of humor
 Tips for Tone
• Be likable and sound natural
• Avoid casualisms
• Avoid being overly formal and wordy
• Use names and personal pronouns
• Include courtesies
• State arguments positively
• Avoid sarcasm
• Use active voice
• Express goodwill by exhibiting concern
for reader’s viewpoint
• Assume their goodwill and cooperation
• Be judicious with use of humor
 Tips for Tone
• Be likable and sound natural
• Avoid casualisms
• Avoid being overly formal and wordy
• Use names and personal pronouns
• Include courtesies
• State arguments positively
• Avoid sarcasm
• Use active voice
• Express goodwill by exhibiting concern
for reader’s viewpoint
• Assume their goodwill and cooperation
• Be judicious with use of humor
 Tips for Tone
• Be likable and sound natural
• Avoid casualisms
• Avoid being overly formal and wordy
• Use names and personal pronouns
• Include courtesies
• State arguments positively
• Avoid sarcasm
• Use active voice
• Express goodwill by exhibiting concern
for reader’s viewpoint
• Assume their goodwill and cooperation
• Be judicious with use of humor
 Tips for Tone
• Be likable and sound natural
• Avoid casualisms
• Avoid being overly formal and wordy
• Use names and personal pronouns
• Include courtesies
• State arguments positively
• Avoid sarcasm
• Use active voice
• Express goodwill by exhibiting concern
for reader’s viewpoint
• Assume their goodwill and cooperation
• Be judicious with use of humor
 Tips for Tone
• Be likable and sound natural
• Avoid casualisms
• Avoid being overly formal and wordy
• Use names and personal pronouns
• Include courtesies
• State arguments positively
• Avoid sarcasm
• Use active voice
• Express goodwill by exhibiting concern
for reader’s viewpoint
• Assume their goodwill and cooperation
• Be judicious with use of humor
 Tips for Tone
• Be likable and sound natural
• Avoid casualisms
• Avoid being overly formal and wordy
• Use names and personal pronouns
• Include courtesies
• State arguments positively
• Avoid sarcasm
• Use active voice
• Express goodwill by exhibiting concern
for reader’s viewpoint
• Assume their goodwill and cooperation
• Be judicious with use of humor
 Tips for Tone
• Be likable and sound natural
• Avoid casualisms
• Avoid being overly formal and wordy
• Use names and personal pronouns
• Include courtesies
• State arguments positively
• Avoid sarcasm
• Use active voice
• Express goodwill by exhibiting concern
for reader’s viewpoint
• Assume their goodwill and cooperation
• Be judicious with use of humor
 Tips for Tone
• Be likable and sound natural
• Avoid casualisms
• Avoid being overly formal and wordy
• Use names and personal pronouns
• Include courtesies
• State arguments positively
• Avoid sarcasm
• Use active voice
• Express goodwill by exhibiting concern
for reader’s viewpoint
• Assume their goodwill and cooperation
• Be judicious with use of humor