Is writing so hard?
I get many requests to write for people/friends/family even simple things like a thank you note to writing to an investor to writing a business communication to complex relationship problems!
I'd like to help, I genuinely do to the best of my ability but I'll have to device a framework or a better way of helping all the requests and pings. I am sometimes hard pressed against time that I fail to assist in the hour of that emergency need.
If you are one of those to whom I haven't responded, please accept my humble apologies.
I'd like to clarify I am not a writer, I am just passionate about it and have learnt a few lessons on writing with impact. Rest has been observatory learning from the regular books I read and some experiential learning
I am glad to have been helpful, but know this - anybody can write, if you can talk you can write... just a few rules, few techniques and once you know them, with a little practice - you too can write to create the impact you intend to.
I will try and come up with blogs every Friday and every Wednesday with several tips and creative ways to write and help in a minion way to create an impact in your writing.
Why is writing so important? There was a study done by McKinsey Research Institute that an average knowledge worker spends about 20% of their time processing emails. There are different conventions used in different companies, however, emails are going to stay as a medium of documentable communication, virtual teaming , culturally diverse teams and especially when you are working with someone whom you have never met or heard of.
The tone of your email represents you, your team and in some cases your company. It also creates a picture of you in the mind of the reader of your email. How can you be assertive, righteous, courteous, avoid common mistakes, Indianisms especially and some unforgiveable errors.
Be it movie making, videos, projects, speech, audio or any form of content, what goes behind is writing. And things like Email, Blogs and other direct media, too have a direct impact on the reader.
Writing is very important just as dressing good is important. And like staying healthy is important, a well written email shows a healthy communication.
I hope to interview some of the top business executives and get their insights on how they write impactful articulations and what their best practices are.
Know this - You dont need to have a great vocabulary, do not undermine your writing quotient, you do not need to be a great novelist to write. You have to be thinking clearly and express freely with a certain level of awareness and creativity. Dont worry, it will all fall into place and I will help you so you get there.
In this Blog Episode lets unshred and unlearn a bit of what I have seen as many carry as a "baggage" of so many obstacles to your thinking. Please continue reading with an open mind so you can let the 'fear' out and get the 'clear' in.
Lets deal with this from an example: You are at your office and you just see that you have missed on a promise. Your boss will be very angry. You have to now write to that customer, deal with this situation and also with your boss.
How would you do it? I'd normally say, dont write an email when you have missed something. Just pick up the phone and call. But if you are in a different timezone and/or you have another reason to write an email, go on.
1. Email is about the reader (recipient) and not only about you. Just say " I am writing this email immediately upon realising that I have missed calling you. I apologize for the delay....
2. Keep it short - Keep emails short. To the point and end it.
Hi Clara,
May I know the status of shipment SKU123431?
We are awaiting delivery of the above SKU whose ETA was yesterday.
I am afraid, it appears there has been a delay.
Please help
Thank you
Jump straight to the point. Save readers time. Be polite, professional and neutral to any emotion.
3. Think of the end purpose - what the reader would think? If its a condolence, essay, obituary, thank you note, apology, resignation - think of the purpose, why you are writing and then gauage what the reader would think.
4. Take feedback - Best way to deal with is ask for feedback before sending an email or a note, make changes needed and learn from it.
5. Dont be Emotional - Especially when you are dealing with another person's ego. We all carry ego, and its an endless fuel of nuclear sort of energy that keeps poisoning your day. Keep away and stay rational, not emotional. I have learnt this the hardway, trust me its no use. So when you get a finger pointing email, instead of finger pointing back, think hard, breathe, take a break, come back and write a mature forgiving email. Dont do that "Dog bit me, I'll bite the dog back" thing.
I will try and share more excercise and tips as we go. I am very short knicked on time, however, will give my best to keep sharing some best practices. Next blogs will be many examples of some of the coolest of emails ever written.
Thanks for reading. Please share and comment your feedback
(Ignore Brevity. This Blog was published from a Mobile Device)
I get many requests to write for people/friends/family even simple things like a thank you note to writing to an investor to writing a business communication to complex relationship problems!
I'd like to help, I genuinely do to the best of my ability but I'll have to device a framework or a better way of helping all the requests and pings. I am sometimes hard pressed against time that I fail to assist in the hour of that emergency need.
If you are one of those to whom I haven't responded, please accept my humble apologies.
I'd like to clarify I am not a writer, I am just passionate about it and have learnt a few lessons on writing with impact. Rest has been observatory learning from the regular books I read and some experiential learning
I am glad to have been helpful, but know this - anybody can write, if you can talk you can write... just a few rules, few techniques and once you know them, with a little practice - you too can write to create the impact you intend to.
I will try and come up with blogs every Friday and every Wednesday with several tips and creative ways to write and help in a minion way to create an impact in your writing.
Why is writing so important? There was a study done by McKinsey Research Institute that an average knowledge worker spends about 20% of their time processing emails. There are different conventions used in different companies, however, emails are going to stay as a medium of documentable communication, virtual teaming , culturally diverse teams and especially when you are working with someone whom you have never met or heard of.
The tone of your email represents you, your team and in some cases your company. It also creates a picture of you in the mind of the reader of your email. How can you be assertive, righteous, courteous, avoid common mistakes, Indianisms especially and some unforgiveable errors.
Be it movie making, videos, projects, speech, audio or any form of content, what goes behind is writing. And things like Email, Blogs and other direct media, too have a direct impact on the reader.
Writing is very important just as dressing good is important. And like staying healthy is important, a well written email shows a healthy communication.
I hope to interview some of the top business executives and get their insights on how they write impactful articulations and what their best practices are.
Know this - You dont need to have a great vocabulary, do not undermine your writing quotient, you do not need to be a great novelist to write. You have to be thinking clearly and express freely with a certain level of awareness and creativity. Dont worry, it will all fall into place and I will help you so you get there.
In this Blog Episode lets unshred and unlearn a bit of what I have seen as many carry as a "baggage" of so many obstacles to your thinking. Please continue reading with an open mind so you can let the 'fear' out and get the 'clear' in.
Lets deal with this from an example: You are at your office and you just see that you have missed on a promise. Your boss will be very angry. You have to now write to that customer, deal with this situation and also with your boss.
How would you do it? I'd normally say, dont write an email when you have missed something. Just pick up the phone and call. But if you are in a different timezone and/or you have another reason to write an email, go on.
1. Email is about the reader (recipient) and not only about you. Just say " I am writing this email immediately upon realising that I have missed calling you. I apologize for the delay....
2. Keep it short - Keep emails short. To the point and end it.
Hi Clara,
May I know the status of shipment SKU123431?
We are awaiting delivery of the above SKU whose ETA was yesterday.
I am afraid, it appears there has been a delay.
Please help
Thank you
Jump straight to the point. Save readers time. Be polite, professional and neutral to any emotion.
3. Think of the end purpose - what the reader would think? If its a condolence, essay, obituary, thank you note, apology, resignation - think of the purpose, why you are writing and then gauage what the reader would think.
4. Take feedback - Best way to deal with is ask for feedback before sending an email or a note, make changes needed and learn from it.
5. Dont be Emotional - Especially when you are dealing with another person's ego. We all carry ego, and its an endless fuel of nuclear sort of energy that keeps poisoning your day. Keep away and stay rational, not emotional. I have learnt this the hardway, trust me its no use. So when you get a finger pointing email, instead of finger pointing back, think hard, breathe, take a break, come back and write a mature forgiving email. Dont do that "Dog bit me, I'll bite the dog back" thing.
I will try and share more excercise and tips as we go. I am very short knicked on time, however, will give my best to keep sharing some best practices. Next blogs will be many examples of some of the coolest of emails ever written.
Thanks for reading. Please share and comment your feedback
(Ignore Brevity. This Blog was published from a Mobile Device)
