Effective Communication by Email

The business reader is neither reading at leisure nor reading for pleasure. Instead, business readers typically devote less than a minute to reading most emails and correspondence. They are reading to answer three questions:

1. Do I have to do anything?
2. If so, what?
3. How urgent is it?

This workshop shows participants how to create emails and other correspondence that has the business reader in mind. We invite participants to bring examples of their emails to check against the guidelines contained in the workshop.

Duration

½ day workshop followed by 2 feedback sessions on participants’ work after the workshop.

 

Course Objectives

At the end of the programme participants will be better able to:

• write email communications that are purposeful and get results;
• use correct grammar and punctuation;
• organise their electronic “filing cabinet” to be more effective;
• avoid getting into “flame wars”;
• understand the importance to their business of how people use email.

 

Course Outline

• Introduction
• History of email
• Advantages/Disadvantages
• Choosing the right medium
• Five steps to creating a powerful email
• Forecasting subject lines
• Statement of purpose
• Important Information
• Next Action
• Contact details
• Grammar and Style Quiz
• The hardworking apostrophe
• Punctuation
• Obscure words and passive verbs
• Direct vs Indirect
• Good email usage and what not to do
• Good Housekeeping

 

Most commonly used delivery methods

• Presentation
• Discussion
• Business Simulation
• Role Play
• Question & Answer
• Case Studies
• Discovery Learning
• Modeling
• Brainstorming
• Small group activities
• Large group activities
• Activities with music
• Activities with art
• Individual coaching
• Structured feedback
• Drama
• Graphic recording
• Psychometric testing