Clear Business Writing – How to Design Fit for Purpose Reports and Beyond

This webinar series has been developed to help you lead change towards clearer communications and writing in your workplace. You'll receive insights, top tips, tools and examples on:

•Part 1: How to design a fit for purpose report
In this first webinar, we’ll cover report writing. But every report is different, and every reader and context have different requirements. So how do we get clarity in our thinking so that we can write quickly, confidently, and most importantly – so that our reports work? 

•Part 2:  Report structure that works for readers
In this second webinar, we’ll continue with report writing, but this time with a focus on structure. To create a report that’s fit for purpose, we need to understand two things – how modern readers behave, and how (and why) we aren’t writing successfully for them. 

•Part 3: Plain language - what is it and how to use it 
In this third webinar, we’ll take an in-depth look into plain language – what research tells us is best-practice communication in the modern workplace. We’ll look at the research so that we can understand the benefits and importance of plain language. We’ll look at examples, and we’ll go through the basic tools of plain language so you can apply them from now on. 

•Part 4:  Beyond reports - how to embed a culture of clear writing in your business
In this last webinar, we’ll talk about how to plan, lead, resource, and implement a culture of clear communication and writing at your workplace. It’s easier said than done!

Learning outcomes
On successful completion, participants should be able to:

Part 1: How to design a fit for purpose report
•Identify what will happen if a document is successful
•Identify multiple readers
•Prioritise the needs of each set of readers
•Filter appropriate information
•Plan any report from scratch

Part 2:  Report structure that works for readers
•Explain the disconnect between our reader and writer selves
•Recognise our own behaviours as both a reader and as a writer
•Structure a report to meet reader needs and behaviour
•Reorganise outdated report structures to suit modern readers
•Write like a reader

Part 3: Plain language - what is it and how to use it 
•Explain what plain language is
•Identify the research-based benefits of plain language
•Translate old-fashioned, overly formal, or technical information into plain language
•Explain the potential points of resistance to plain language

Part 4:  Beyond reports - how to embed a culture of clear writing in your business
•Identify the challenges of changing communications and writing culture
•Use tools to manage resistance
•Create a set of resources to support the change
•State why plain language is necessary and beneficial to the organisation
•Recite key finding from research into plain language.

Benefits
•More confidence in writing reports
•A process to follow when writing reports
•Reports that wow your readers
•Less wasted time for writers and readers
•Faster, more confident, clearer writing
•Satisfied readers
•Increased trust and buy-in
•More time
•Happier clients
•Happier staff
•Confident decision-making based on clear information