Thinking CreativelyWays to become more creative include
brainstorming,working within limits, consciously seeking problems
or dissonances that need work.
1-*
*Work requires communication. People communicate to plan
products and services; hire, train, and motivate workers;
coordinate manufacturing and delivery; persuade customers to buy;
and bill them for sale. These are just some of the ways
communication helps the modern work world. In every organization,
communication is the way people get their points across, get work
done, and get recognized for their contributions.***Verbal
communication uses words, and includes face-to-face and phone
conversations, e-mail messages, and letters, memos, and reports.
Nonverbal communication includes gestures, body language, where
someone sits, and company logos.*Verbal communication uses words,
and includes face-to-face and phone conversations, e-mail messages,
and letters, memos, and reports. Nonverbal communication includes
gestures, body language, where someone sits, and company logos.*The
workplace requires writing. However, 40 million people in the U.S.
alone have limited literacy skills, including some college
graduates. States and corporations spend millions to dollars to
train employees or to fix problems due to poor writing, and the
cost is $22.13 per page for a typical one-page letter.*The
workplace requires writing. However, 40 million people in the U.S.
alone have limited literacy skills, including some college
graduates. Two-thirds of private-sector employers surveyed said
writing was an importantresponsibility for employeesGood
communication skills are vital in todays workplace.Technology,
especially through e-mail, instant messaging, and cell phones, is
making theglobe a smaller and busier place, one where messages must
be understood immediately.The better an employees communication
skills are, the better his or herchance for success.
**Claim 1: Secretaries will do all my writing.Reality: Because
of automation and restructuring, secretaries and administrative
assistants are likelyto handle complex tasks such as training,
research, and database management for severalmanagers. Managers are
likely to take care of their own writing, data entry, and phone
calls. 12Claim 2: Ill use form letters or templates when I need to
write.Reality: A form letter is a prewritten fill-in-the-blank
letter designed to fit standard situations.Using a form letter is
OK if its a good letter. But form letters cover only routine
situations.The higher you rise, the more frequently youll face
situations that arent routineand that demand creative
solutions.*Claim 3: Im being hired as an accountant, not a
writer.Reality: Almost every entry-level professional or managerial
job requires you to write e-mailmessages, speak to small groups,
and write paper documents. People who do these thingswell are more
likely to be promoted beyond the entry level.Claim 4: Ill just pick
up the phone.Reality: Important phone calls require follow-up
letters, memos, or e-mail messages. People inorganizations put
things in writing to make themselves visible, to create a record,
to conveycomplex data, to make things convenient for the reader, to
save money, and to conveytheir own messages more effectively. If it
isnt in writing, says a manager at one company,it didnt happen.
Writing is an essential way to make yourself visible, to let
youraccomplishments be known.*While all good writing shares basic
principles, business writing is often different than other school
writing. For instance, business writing prefers shorter sentences
and paragraphs, a more conversational tone, and more dynamic
document designs than a typical college essay. While essays may be
written primarily for instructors, business writing often has
multiple audiences.*Communicationoral, nonverbal, and writtengoes
to both internal and external audiences. Analyze each carefully
when composing your message.*When you inform, you explain something
or tell readerssomething. When you request or persuade, you want
the reader to act. The wordrequest suggests that the action will be
easy or routine; persuade suggests that you willhave to motivate
and convince the reader to act. When you build goodwill, you create
agood image of yourself and of your organizationthe kind of image
that makes peoplewant to do business with you.Bad writing wastes
time by Taking more time to read. Requiring more time to revise and
causing more rounds of revision. Confusing ideas so that
discussions and decisions are needlessly drawn out. Delaying action
while the reader asks for more information or tries to figure out
themeaning.**Make sure the meaning of your message is clear, all of
the information needed to understand or act on the message is
included, and that the information is accurate. The message should
build goodwill and be organized so the reader can act on the
information as quickly as possible.*Use PAIBOC when writing and
revising your messages. Carefully analyze each of the PAIBOC
components: Purpose, Audience, Information, Benefits, Objections,
and Context.**Employees today should expect to write, edit, and
send their own messages. Form letters can work, provided they are
well written, but rarely can form letters meet all needs.
Regardless of their field, employees can expect to write on the
job, and even though much business is done on the phone, writing is
still a common means of communication.*Employees today should
expect to write, edit, and send their own messages. Form letters
can work, provided they are well written, but rarely can form
letters meet all needs. Regardless of their field, employees can
expect to write on the job, and even though much business is done
on the phone, writing is still a common means of communication.
