Has your manager criticized you for spelling and grammar mistakes in your emails or reports? Do you feel as though your career trajectory is limited by your ineffective writing style? Successful professionals are also expert communicators because they understand the power of persuasive writing. Every situation requires its own style, e.g. a report should be easy to read and always on topic, a sales pitch should be persuasive and confident, and a technical report should explain complex ideas in simple terms.
Poor Grammar Hurts Your Credibility
Your written documentsare increasingly a basis for your professional reputation. You will quickly gain a reputation for consistently misspelling words unless you carefully proofread your emails. Grammar and spelling mistakes are not just embarrassing, though. Managers and executives may misunderstand or misinterpret your reports as a result of grammatical errors. You will have to do more than proofread your documents to master office communications. You should consider a writing skills course if your career has been affected by poor communication. Facilitators can teach you how to identify your audience and tailor your style to their expectations, especially when you take courses specifically designed for business communications like those offered by Wavelength Training.
Concise Reports Save Your Superiors’ Time
Your managers and executives value their time and they reward employees who make report reading easy. They read dozens of business reports every day, and they will take notice if you can deliver documents that communicate your point quickly. If you’re interested in learning how to write for business readers, managers, and executives, look into training programs such as business writing skills training courses at Wavelength. Once you’ve mastered business communication, you’ll quickly understand why your superiors don’t have the patience for simple grammar errors.
Writing Skills Take Critical Thinking
A growing number of employers attribute obvious grammar mistakes to factors like laziness, a slow learning curve, or a lack of essential skills. Kyle Weins made waves several years ago when he made public his “zero tolerance” approach. He explained why applicants to his companies had to take a grammar test, and why those applicants who mistook “to” and “too” were instantly disqualified. He justified his hard line by saying that anyone old enough to pursue a career should know the difference between “its” and “it’s,” or else their learning curve is too slow to be competitive. In an impromptu study of LinkedIn profiles, The Harvard Business Review found that professionals who were not in director-level positions after 10 years had over twice as many grammatical mistakes on their profiles as director-level professionals.
The business writing facilitators at Wavelength train learners in more than just basic grammar. They train their clients to draft reports in an effective, concise style with persuasive supporting materials (including charts, graphs, bullet points, and meaningful headers). If you’re going to invest in training for writing skills, find a course with a comprehensive program that teaches you how to organize information, persuasively express your argument, and write in a professional, time-saving style. Ultimately, this will benefit all areas of your education and will help you to become a straight A student.
