Business Communication
The main focus of the workshop was to teach the participants on how they can improve their writing skills. Facilitators emphasized on the importance of effective business writing and honed the participants’ skills on the same. Sandra Dean was the instructor of the workshop and she taught on the step that should be adhered to when writing. These are planning, writing and editing. The instructor noted that many writers neglect planning and editing which is detrimental especially in business writing. As such, the instructor offered vital lessons on these two areas. The instructor emphasized on four steps to good business writing. These are identification of audience, identification of purpose, identification of the main points and lastly the making decisions on when to place fishhooks and details. The instructor stated that when editing, a writer should check that the right main points are in place, proper organization of ideas, proper grammar and that s/he maintains the desired word count. The workshop also offered insight on how individuals and business leaders can adjust their messages to reflect or suit different audiences.
Practical Application
The information obtained from the workshop finds numerous vital applications in actual business and organizational settings. This is particularly so when one wants to compile information about a certain organization. Moreover, there is plenty of presentations and reporting that is done on a daily basis in all businesses and organizations. In such scenarios, a writer should ask and address the questions of who, where, when and why prior to starting a research or a report. Information obtained from a research can be used to analyze an audience so as to enable the presenter or the writer to adjust and suit his/her message to the intended audience. This is especially important and applicable when one has to address business forums and workshops comprising of a diversified audience. The presenter quipped that business writer should be “narrowcasters” and not broadcasters. This assertion means that, business writers and presenters should narrow down their communication to the relevant and important points rather than focusing on a wide range of issues that they are unable to address adequately. By narrowing don on their communication topics, business writers are able to gain attention of their audience and gain effectiveness when it comes to the implementation of their findings or recommendations by the target audience.
Personal Effect
I personally believe that the information that I acquired from this workshop will help me become a better leader. I learnt several things about effective business communication. I will certainly improve my information gathering and writing skills when I am undertaking business assignments. I will for instance be better equipped to analyze my audience more closely, identify my purpose more comfortably, indentify my main points more logically and organize my writing and presentations effectively. This training has impacted greatly on my interpersonal skills as I can now communicate effectively to people from different ages. I can single out unique and interesting things that I will apply in my career such as the use of fishhooks in both emails and essays. A fishhook will help me to introduce the subject of my communication and also make it easier for the readers to understand my message. I stand to gain great attention and responsiveness by using this important communication tool. I shall use the responses that I obtain from my audience to improve on my leadership qualities.
