Bad business writing is bad for business. Bloated
language, fractured syntax, and jargon-laden
corporate-speak abound in today's workplace; often
due to increasing information overload brought on by
email.
Perceived need for speed
"But in an era
of
nonstop email and instant and text-
messaging, written communication skills within
companies may be getting even worse as quality is
compromised by the perceived need for speed,"
according to a recent article written by Dave Carpenter
of the Associated Press. A deficiency in writing
skills and a tendency to click the send
button too hastily without proofreading is also part of
the problem.
Business schools expanding writing programs
Wary of the trend, both businesses and business
schools across the country are working harder to
improve writing. Some colleges have added or
expanded writing programs in recent years.
"It happens every day that businesses send bad
messages," said Jim O'Rourke, a management
professor at Notre Dame and director of the
university's Fanning Center for Business
Communications. "They send messages they don't
intend."
Deficiency in writing skills
Several recent studies conclude that today's American
workforce is "woefully ill-prepared" for the demands of
the workplace, particularly in the area of oral and
written communications. This is important because
poor business and email writing can affect a
company's reputation and relationship with
customers and key constituencies. It can also
increase miscommunication, reduce productivity, and
pose legal challenges.
A new report, "To Read or Not to Read", published in
Nov. 2007 by the National Endowment for the Arts,
concludes that new entrants in the American
workforce are sorely lacking in writing and reading
skills. How can the U.S. continue to compete in a
global economy if the entering workforce is not
adequately prepared?
Writing top skill for success
A survey conducted in 2006 by the Conference
Board, Corporate Voices for Working Families,
Partnership for 21st Century Skills, and the Society for
Human Resource Management, reported similar
conclusions in the study "Are They Really Ready to
Work?".
The four organizations jointly surveyed over
400 employers across the U.S., which confirmed that
oral and written communications are among the top
skills needed to succeed in the 21st century
workplace.
The study found that at the high school level, well over
one-half of new entrants are deficiently prepared in
these skills. While college graduates are better
prepared, too few are excelling. In fact, the study found
that more than one-quarter of four-year college
graduates are perceived to be deficiently prepared in
written communications.
Consider business writing training or coaching
If you're concerned about the quality of
written
communications among employees or managers in
your organization, consider business writing training
and/or coaching by contacting me today.
