09.05.08 - Chapter 1, 20, 22

Chapter 1

After reading Chapter 1, I really understand the importance of effective communication. (Because the book says I will earn more money!) All kidding aside, communication is the foundation of any one's career. Without the ability to to convey important messages in the workplace, you might as well stay at home.

There is a significant difference between writing for your educational life and writing for your professional life. Mainly your audience. In your career your communications are usually sent to multiple people and convey a essential business related message. E-mail, memos, transmittal's, and Fax's are some of the most common forms of communication that a person will deal with in the workplace. Other forms you might come across are PowerPoint presentations, spec books, and manuals. In any case, effective communication is key.

In my professional life I am constantly honing my communication skills both verbal and non-verbal. E-mail takes up a lot of my time and is the main form of communication between me, my co-workers, vendors, reps and distributors. I need to be clear and concise in my communications because none of the parties involved have time to try and decipher ineffective communications.

Chapter 20

Chapter 20 tackles reader centered correspondence such as e-mail, memos and letters. It discusses seven guidelines involved in making sure your correspondence gets the job done. The one I found that is the most important to me is "State your main point up." I don't think I can express in this blog without pictures how important this is. Don't beat around the bush. People in the workplace have better things to do than wait for you to either spit or spell it out. I learned that one really quickly once I got out into the workforce and it is chapter 1 in my career bible.

Formatting your communications is very important as well. They need to be neat and professional without being overbearing. Developing templates for your different types of correspondence can be very beneficial when you are in a hurry. You just fill out the new information and go.

Chapter 22

Reader-centered proposals are the focus of chapter 22. This is probably the single most important part of communication. Usually when you are preparing proposals they are very formal. You are either giving proposals to your co-workers, managers and most often, your customers. Being successful in writing proposals is the backbone to any business. If you thing about it, customers expect to be treated like royalty and if you deliver anything less you are either costing the company money or you are standing in the unemployment line.

Since my goal is to attain a degree in MIS, I understand how important this will be in my future. I know that if I don't develop the skills necessary to be effective at writing proposals I might as well go get a job at the zoo taking care of monkeys.