Business Writing
How to convey your message clearly and efficiently
Effective communication in business is crucial for software product managers, engineers, and team leaders. To ensure your message hits home, it's essential to grasp some fundamental principles, especially considering that your audience might be short on time or not fully engaged.
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Here are some key principles to remember when communicating:
Clarify Your Objectives: Before you start writing, ask yourself why you're communicating. Understanding your goals will guide the rest of your communication process.
Address Their Needs: Explain why your message matters to your audience. What's in it for them? Make it relevant and beneficial.
Identify the Critical Information: Figure out the most important points you want your audience to remember or understand. What do they really need to know?
Prioritize Your Points: Organize your ideas from most to least important. Start with what matters most and work your way down. Stick to the principle of BLUF (Bottom line up front).
Optimize Formatting: Use headings to structure your message effectively, but don't overdo it. Keep formatting simple to avoid overwhelming your audience.
Simplify Language: Use clear, straightforward language that everyone can understand.
Keep it Short: Respect your audience's time by keeping your message concise. Focus on delivering fewer words and ideas for clarity and impact. Keep sentences short and get to the point quickly.
Facilitate Response: Make it easy for your audience to take action. Simplify the steps required and clearly organize any information they need to act upon.
What I read
As usual, I will list some of the best articles I read on the Internet. I will keep a list of the best articles (currently >800) at https://www.digital-product-management.com. These are today’s picks:
Days Since Last (DSL): A metric measure the number of days since an event last happened
Headline driven development: A simple process for shipping software projects with experienced teams.
Leading Change: A methodology as the proven approach to producing lasting change.