7/30/2019 Bus.comm Reading Materials 16 Communication Guidelines in a Nutshell

1/2

Guidelines for Written and Oral Work.

Written Work OralPresentation

1. Make Sense Express your ideas in acoherent, orderly way. Donot rely on verbal paddingto take the place of clearthinking

1. Speak Up Audiences resent having tolean forward in an effort tocatch your words.

2. Back upyourassertions

In most cases, an assertionis not true simply becauseyou claim to be so.Consider the use ofexamples, anecdotes, andcitations of authorities,statistics, and other formsof support to lendevidence to yourassertions.

2. Achieverapportquickly

Use the first few moments ofyour presentations to orientaudience members and showthem that you feelcomfortable with them.

3.

Write foryouraudience

Select language, length,and levels ofaugmentation andevidence that suit youraudience

3.

Look at yourlistenersIndicate by your eye contactsthat you are talking withyour listeners, not at them(or worse t, to the floor,ceiling or walls).

4. Edit andrevise

Eliminate deadwood,provide solid transitionsbetween ideas, and repairevery last error ingrammar, spelling, andmechanics. Often a secondset of eyes can catch

errors to which the writeris blind.

4. Use gesturesto expressyour ideas.

Appropriate hand gesturesand facial expressions addenergy and communicatesincerity.

5. Format forreadability.

Use the word processingtechnologies available toyou to create easy to-read attractivedocuments.

5. Move freely ,withoutpacing.

Use the available space tomove naturally.

6. Write toexpress, notto impress.

Business language haslittle place for puffery.Get to the point.

6. Use notes, ( ifnecessary) asunobtrusivelyas possible

Notes function best asthought triggers, not asverbatim transcripts of apresentation.

7. Prefercommonlanguage todifficultverbiage.

Mark Twain vowed never

to write metropolis whenI get paid the same forwriting city

7. Highlight keyideas.

Voice volumes, pauses,

graphic aids and headlining(telling listeners that a pointis particularly important. Canall be used to emphasize keypoints.

8. Give creditto yoursources

Ideas, sentences, phrases, and terms that are notyour own must befootnoted. APA and MLA

8. Channelnervousenergy into anenthusiastic

Accept nerves as a naturalform of excitement and usethat energy to deliver yourpoints with appropriate

7/30/2019 Bus.comm Reading Materials 16 Communication Guidelines in a Nutshell

2/2

Guidelines for Written and Oral Work.

documentation styles arestandard.

delivery passion.

9. Use graphicaids wherenecessary tocapture and

highlightideas.

Do not use graphic aids asdecoration.

9. Watch youraudience forsigns ofcomprehensio

n ormisunderstanding

True communication is not aone way lecture. Payattention to the facialexpressions and body

language of audiencemembers to determine if youare getting through.

10.Write withenergy andconviction

Business writing can be asinteresting as the world ofbusiness itself.

10.End with abang, not awhimper

Your concluding words shouldbe memorable for yourlisteners.