Career Crash Avoidance - Make Sure You Know Write From Wrong
So you can't write for toffee.
Better not let too many people know that.
You can get just so far on the phone or by texting.
But soon comes the day when you have to commit to writing, and having one or two tricks up your sleeve could be really useful.
Don't worry that you can't write Getting good with words is a skill you can work on when you're ready.
In the meantime, at least make sure you can read.
That doesn't mean skimming.
Real reading requires proper focused attention.
Why? Because if anything is going to leave your desk with your name on it, careful reading before it goes will prevent bad mistakes from escaping.
What are you looking for? You're reading to check you can understand whatever's there.
If it doesn't make sense that's the first thing to fix.
Then, does it make the point you want to make? Is it easy to read? How about grammar and spelling? If any of these are wrong, they have to be done again.
Let them go, and you're the one to get hit for making a screw-up.
Who's going to write if you don't? Whoever you choose.
Somebody whose words you can read with confidence.
A colleague maybe, or a friend.
Somebody you know you can trust.
Preferably a professional who knows how to communicate.
Because that's how you have to come across when you commit yourself to paper.
When they read it, that's what your colleagues will think, and your customers.
What! You have to pay! If you want it done professionally, of course you do.
Particularly if it requires specialist skills.
It's not wrong to hire a script writer to prepare your speech.
So it's not wrong to hire a strategist to write your proposal.
Using a specialist will give you an edge, making you more competitive.
If you're not ready to part with money you'll probably pay anyway - in fumbled communications and lost opportunities.
Realise that you're actually paying yourself Whatever the communication, you're making it for a reason.
By having it written for you, you're upping its quality to ensure it's well received.
Any benefit therefore comes back to you, which you wouldn't have had without help in the first place.
Your investment in good writing pays off.
Of course you could SAVE money by honing your skills to write properly yourself.
That pays too - but that's another story.
Better not let too many people know that.
You can get just so far on the phone or by texting.
But soon comes the day when you have to commit to writing, and having one or two tricks up your sleeve could be really useful.
Don't worry that you can't write Getting good with words is a skill you can work on when you're ready.
In the meantime, at least make sure you can read.
That doesn't mean skimming.
Real reading requires proper focused attention.
Why? Because if anything is going to leave your desk with your name on it, careful reading before it goes will prevent bad mistakes from escaping.
What are you looking for? You're reading to check you can understand whatever's there.
If it doesn't make sense that's the first thing to fix.
Then, does it make the point you want to make? Is it easy to read? How about grammar and spelling? If any of these are wrong, they have to be done again.
Let them go, and you're the one to get hit for making a screw-up.
Who's going to write if you don't? Whoever you choose.
Somebody whose words you can read with confidence.
A colleague maybe, or a friend.
Somebody you know you can trust.
Preferably a professional who knows how to communicate.
Because that's how you have to come across when you commit yourself to paper.
When they read it, that's what your colleagues will think, and your customers.
What! You have to pay! If you want it done professionally, of course you do.
Particularly if it requires specialist skills.
It's not wrong to hire a script writer to prepare your speech.
So it's not wrong to hire a strategist to write your proposal.
Using a specialist will give you an edge, making you more competitive.
If you're not ready to part with money you'll probably pay anyway - in fumbled communications and lost opportunities.
Realise that you're actually paying yourself Whatever the communication, you're making it for a reason.
By having it written for you, you're upping its quality to ensure it's well received.
Any benefit therefore comes back to you, which you wouldn't have had without help in the first place.
Your investment in good writing pays off.
Of course you could SAVE money by honing your skills to write properly yourself.
That pays too - but that's another story.
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