Letter Writing

Letters are our ambassadors and provide a permanent record. Excellent relationships created face-to-face can be ruined by one poorly written letter.
Overview

Letters, e-mails and memos are a vital element in customer communication and internal communication. Problems in relationships and costly errors are common. Written communication also provides a permanent record and may 'haunt' the organisation later. E-mails make it easier to make mistakes. Schools focus on writing styles applicable to literature not the modern commercial world. This course provides the essential skills needed in an interactive and stimulating way. Participants can focus on the correspondence they are involved with.

Who Should Attend

Anyone involved in writing letters, e-mails or correspondence.

Duration

1 Day

Letter Writing - Course Objectives


Participants will learn:

• how to 'tune in' to readers and avoid common errors
  
• effective formats for various purposes
  
• the key elements to ensure the document is interesting
  
• how to ensure their documents are understood
  
• how to make their documents 'easy to read.'
  

Letter Writing - Course Outline


Introduction, aims, agenda
The role of letters and memoranda in internal/external relationships
When not to use letters

Profiling the readership
Key factors in the profile of potential readers
The issue of important secondary readers
Common errors in preparation

Letter & memorandum structure
Different formats and structures
How to gain the attention of the reader
Putting forward benefits in letters
Handling 'complaints'

Ensuring your letter is interesting
Developing an effective personal style
Key factors in creating an interesting document
How to polish your document

Ensuring your letter is understood
'Rules' guaranteed to reduce/remove potential misunderstandings
Common errors

Ensuring readability of your letter
What schools do not teach
The structure of paragraphs
How to improve readability
Common errors that 'turn off' readers