Читать книгу Write Better and Get Ahead At Work - Michael Dolan - Страница 6

Writing is “people” more than “paper.” The path to success for writing dilemmas lies not in learning more rules and tips about language. The solution instead lies in the world around us, its people and problems, its complexities and strains. Writing at work is successfully connecting to this world. So in order to communicate better, Terry must reach out to the people around her rather than isolate herself within the world of language skills. Yes, knowing grammar and punctuation is important. But such language skills are only the tools for communication, not the goals. For writing success, Terry must do what she does in the rest of her work life. She must set goals for each memo, letter or report. And when she finishes, she must check to make sure she has achieved those specific communication and action goals.

Waiting for inspiration to make the words flow will not work. The concept of inspiration comes to us from the ancient Greeks, who identified nine divine Muses who whisper ideas to poets and artists. Unfortunately, the Greeks offer no mention of a Muse for memo writing. For writing at work, they leave us to our own imaginations. That is just as well. We must learn to create our own fate. And for many people today, that fate depends on how well they write. Even with the widespread adoption of computers and the electronic networks that go with them, writing continues to be an essential element for achieving goals at work. In fact, the electronic workplace makes writing skills more important to more workers than ever before.

Maybe you recognized some of the problems Terry faces when writing at work. Her situation is common. If you feel discomfort instead of joy when you write memos, letters and reports, the key to your success is the same as for Terry. Identify your writing process: Clearly understand the steps you go through to produce a document. Select precise and appropriate communication goals for each writing project. Work until you achieve those goals. And most important of all, once you have achieved the goals you set for yourself, move on to the next task at work without worrying about what you have written. The most enjoyable part of writing does not come from committing words to paper. The pleasant experience we all seek is the fun of knowing you have gotten yourself across to another person, communication fulfilled.