Let Me Hear It

Noisy Newsrooms
I used to work in a newsroom. Actually, I’ve worked in five different radio and television newsrooms in Iowa. Newsrooms are loud, obnoxious working environments…  especially when it’s close to air time. I thrive on all that activity – the talking, the screaming, the running and the panic.
If you work in a cubicle maze [...]

Yes, S.I.R.!

When you need to brief your boss in person or in writing, consider using the S.I.R. technique. I found this great business communication tip on www.sideroad.com. When Richard Fouts sits down to write, he organizes his work according to S.I.R. or Situation, Impact and Resolution.
Fouts writes: S.I.R. “was given to me by a former marine [...]

Email vs. Voice Mail

Like many of you, when my “to do” list is long I rely on email to do the communication work for me. It’s so much easier to email my co-workers than to talk to them in person. Even voice mail takes longer than typing a quick message. But I run the risk of losing that [...]

Make it Easy to Read

One of my favorite writing coaches is Ann Wylie. Ever since I attended her workshop in 2003, I’ve subscribed to her free newsletter and read her workbooks.
Most of her tips are related to magazine writing, marketing communications and promotional copywriting. But I think the following excerpt on “Cut Through the Clutter” also applies to writing [...]

Writing Professional Emails

Let’s get started with the most-used business communication tool: email. The emails you send at work are not like the ones you send in your personal life. Every time you send an email from your work account, you’re making an impression on a prospect, vendor, customer or future employer.
Use the WHY Technique
I found this great [...]