Essential Writing Skills for the Workplace

• Introduction
  – Importance of effective business writing skills
  – Common errors to avoid
  – Defining the purpose of your message
• Avoid making assumptions
  – Choose concrete and familiar words
  – Beware of obsolete and flowery languages
  – Put action in your verb
• Clarity and word choice
  – Eliminate unnecessary jargon
  – Choose the language that achieves your goal (of writing)
• Style and tone
  – Writing with a ‘YOU’ attitude – what it means to be focused on your reader
  – Be empathic, sincere, tactful and thoughtful
  – Confidence in a polite tone
• Writing concisely
  – Eliminate redundant and wordy expressions
  – Include only the relevant information
  – Avoid unnecessary repetition
• Usage of proper grammar
  – Learn to do proper content editing
  – Choose the correct words and phrases
  – Proofreading
• Building rapport with your reader
  – How to empathise with your customers
  – Build trust and relationship through your writing
  – Improve your credibility through your style of writing
• Format in Business Writing
  – How to write proper subject lines
  – Improve readability for your audience
  – Use appropriate sentence structure and paragraphs
• Correct writing style
  – Writing up, across and down
• Ensure completeness
  – Provide only the necessary information
  – How to tend to queries when you do not have all the answers
  – Go the extra mile

Ms Catherine Michael is an enthusiastic, resourceful and engaging trainer with 15 years of experience in the academic and corporate world. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, Specialist Diploma in Counselling Psychology/Counselling, Cambridge International Diploma for Trainers and an Advanced Certificate in Training and Assessment Certification.

Her specialisation is in conducting teambuilding sessions, effective communication skills, and professional writing skills for working adults and youth. Catherine is a patient and passionate trainer who can engage her audience with ease. She utilises her unique brand of humour to instil a desire in participants to learn and captures their attention with her passion for the topics that she teaches. Having had extensive experience with adults and youth, she has a vivacious way of getting them to believe in their potential to learn and overcome the odds.