Writing Skills For The Workplace

Abstract

("Keep Communication", "Positive communication creates a work atmosphere that nourishes morale and motivation," 2001, para. 3/5) says Eileen O. Brownell, president of Training Solutions (Chico, Calif.). Happy and motivated workers produce better business results. Conflicts in the work environment are the cause of two-thirds of the problems relating to job performances. At other higher levels, stress can affect you negatively.

The results of these damaging levels are loss of productivity or loss of work time. By reducing stress and creating a more team-like working environment productivity loss should soon become minimal, if it occurs at all. Implementation of a writing workshop could teach employees in the business place better communication skills, which would increase morale, improve interpersonal relations, and prevent possible losses to the business.

Writing skills for the work place

T A writing workshop would teach employees in the workplace to communicate better, and thus increase moral, improve relations between the workers, and possibly stop losses in the business itself.

Better writing skills will increase morale in many ways such as reducing conflict, and providing a better working atmosphere. ("Keep Communication", "Positive communication creates a work atmosphere that nourishes morale and motivation," 2001, para. 3/5) says Eileen O. Brownell, president of Training Solutions (Chico, Calif.). Happy and motivated workers produce better business results. Productivity is enhanced in two ways. Employee turnover is lessened and absentee rates are lower. People who are content with their jobs are less likely to leave them. Those who work in a pleasant atmosphere with others who have a good attitude toward their jobs do not feign sickness or let the merest hint of illness keep them from coming in. At the top of the list of methods to convey this atmosphere and sense of well-being is communication, and many times it must be in the form of the written word. Since this rapport is the lifeblood of any business, proper communication skills are a must.

Conflicts in the work environment are the cause of two-thirds of the problems relating to job performances. With a higher morale within the company, there will be a decrease in loss of work time, and it will again lower the turnover rates. According to CCH INC., a Chicago-based provider of employment information that has been tracking the issue since 1991 (Brian Meyer, 2000), employee absenteeism has been declining for the second consecutive year, hitting an all time low in a decade. According to a new national survey, most sick days are taken for reasons other than illness. With a higher morale, employees will be motivated to take more pride in their jobs and assume more responsibility.

Miscommunications within the workplace are having a negative impact on the organization's bottom line. This is a reality that must be acknowledged and dealt with. Managers have to spend more time dealing with recurring Ð''people' conflicts. We may lose skilled employees due to the conflicts, which are caused by poor communication skills. The general assumption is that we are all good writers, and we are able to communicate our views through written word. This is, however, not always the case.

(Gurliacci, David, "Proper handling of anger in the work place can not only avoid bigger problems, such as violence or disruption of the work day, but also make an organization run more smoothly." 2004, p. 4). (Bruce Rosenstein, "Clear writing is extraordinarily valuable to a company, says Victor Nau, partner, Deloitte Consulting. "If we don't communicate effectively," he says, "we may as well walk away from the business because we're not going to be able to relate to what our clients need." 2003)

Haphazard approach to communication can cause billions of dollars loss in corporate productively and profitability each year. This could also lead to liability problems due to misunderstandings of rules or procedures. The possibility of bad public relations is also something that should be considered. The misunderstanding of any memo or document could lead to major problems with the public and press. Clients could be persuaded to move their businesses elsewhere due to bad public relations. This could have a major impact on the company's income for a very long time. Poorly written communications could also affect any funding a company may be getting. A loss of such financial support is just one way that this could cause a drastic drop in a company's annual financial stability and success. The misunderstanding of a few simple words could be the deciding factor in getting a contract or not getting it.

Professional relations with in the workplace should also be a major concern due to miscommunication.