Too many reports fail because they are just too difficult to read. In this course executives and managers learn techniques to help them write more effective reports and make the most out of complex information.
One day in-company training course
This course gives you a method for writing more effective and readable reports. We will ask you to bring either a previously-written report, a work in progress or the raw material on which to base a report so you can work on that during the session.
Why are we writing?
- What is the aim of the document you are writing?
- Who is it going to?
- What do they want from it?
Doing it: Delegates will identify and profile audiences for their reports.
21st century writing
- Why the order matters
- Clarifying the message
- Selling your ideas
- Answering the reader’s question: why should I care about this?
Doing it: Delegates will find the message in material
Defining the model
- What information should be included?
- What is the reader looking for?
- In what order?
- Using the top-down pyramid model to keep the reader’s interest
Doing it: Delegates will analyse samples of good and bad writing
Presenting material so that it will be read
- How should the information be presented for maximum comprehension?
- How to make your information appealing to your reader
- The role of images, graphics and charts
- Using other devices to catch the reader’s eye
Doing it: Delegates will analyse examples of how reports can be presented
Putting the model to work
- Planning – the cornerstone of successful writing
- Delivering key messages in each section
- Planning the content of each section
- Deciding how long each section should be
Doing it: Delegates will plan/revise the structure of the report
Executive summaries
- The role of the executive summary
- What should be included?
- In what order?
- How long should it be?
Doing it: Delegates will plan an executive summary for their report
Discussion and evaluation
Doing it: Delegates will write an executive summary
Discussion and analysis with trainer
Writing to communicate – some simple rules
- Putting pace in your prose
- Keeping your writing lean and tight
- Why you should vary sentence lengths
- Making your writing clear and compelling
- How to avoid using superfluous words
- The importance of active verbs
- Common errors
Doing it: How can you improve this? Delegates will be asked to improve poorly written sentences that contain common writing mistakes
Doing it: Delegates will evaluate the executive summary they have written for pace and readability
Analysis and discussion
Creating the voice
- What language should you use to communicate with your readers?
- Avoiding jargon
Doing it: Delegates will analyse their own writing to see if the voice needs to change
Sections of the report
- Using the top-down pyramid model in each section
- Deciding what should be included
- In what order?
- How long should it be?
Doing it: Delegates will write/revise another section of the report
Analysis and discussion
Doing it: Delegates will write/revise as many sections of the report as time permits
Analysis and discussion
Doing it: Delegates will have an opportunity to discuss with the trainer a report they have brought with them (if it is not the report they are working on)
Analysis and discussion
Summing it up: the POWER method of effective writing
- Prepare
- Organise
- Write
- Examine
- Revise
To do lists – how will you put into practice what you have learned?
Reactions and close
This course provides you with practical skills that you can apply immediately to your own reports. We send you away with a list of “To dos” to focus on. After your training we are always here if you have any queries at all, and will follow-up with you to see how you are getting on.
In-company training course topics
In-company training advantages
Training formats
Feedback and follow-up
Tailoring and organisation
Post course follow-up and support
Our bespoke in-company training is run on a date and at a place to suit you. But if you would rather learn online, we are about to launch our Report writing e-learning course.
Please call 00 44(0)1428 722105 or email us for more information on how we can help you organise your training.