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164 Unit 3: Brief Business Messages

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7

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Writing Routine and

Positive Messages

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After studying this chapter, you will be able to

1Outline an effective strategy for writing routine business requests.

2 Describerequests. three common types of routine

3Outline an effective strategy for writing routine replies and positive messages.

4Describe six common types of routine replies and positive.

Communication

Matters . . .

Louis Lanzano/AP Wide World Photos

Warren Buffett often deals with complex financial issues in his line of business, but he has cultivated the ability to express even complicated subjects in clear, simple language that seeks to inform rather than to impress.

“To succeed, I don’t need to be Shakespeare;

I must, though, have a sincere desire to inform.”

—Warren Buffett,

Legendary investor and chairman of Berkshire Hathaway

Warren Buffett’s financial acumen has made him and many of his shareholders wealthy, but he is recognized almost as widely for his communication skills. His letters, essays, and annual reports communicate complex financial topics in simple language his readers can easily understand. His approach is simple: Even for a document that will be read by thousands of people, he visualizes a single person (often one of his sisters) as his audience. He treats this audience member as an intelligent human being, but someone who doesn’t have the same level of experience with the subject matter he has. From there, he proceeds to organize and write his messages in a way that clarifies all the essential information and doesn’t try to impress or obscure with complicated language.1 Whether you’re posting a status update on a team blog or producing a report for an audience of thousands, Buffett’s approach is a great example to follow.