Writing is an essential skill in business, from emailing clients to creating end-of-month reports. Unfortunately, developing the abilities necessary for effective writing in a professional environment can be daunting. Fortunately, there are several methods you can practice which will improve your communication clarity, conciseness and effectiveness.

Be Aware of Your Audience
Every piece of business communication should be tailored to a particular audience. This requires comprehending the knowledge, vocabulary and jargon used by those you are writing for as well as avoiding cliches or other common terms in your industry.

Decide Your Purpose
When crafting a letter or email, it is essential that the message be clear and concise. Establishing an objective helps you stay on track while providing content your audience wants to read.

Receiving Feedback
Receiving feedback is invaluable in any area of life, including business writing. It can help you identify which parts of your work need improvement and give you a more concrete idea of your progress. Receiving feedback gives you invaluable insight into where you stand as an author and gives you motivation to strive towards greater excellence.

Request feedback from trusted sources such as your boss, colleagues or peers. They can offer valuable insights that will help you craft a more persuasive argument.

Consider Your Objectives, Thesis and Proposal
Every piece of business writing should have an objective. It could be to motivate someone into action (like a board report), or simply keep them informed (like an internal memo).

Establishing a clear purpose will help you focus on the most pertinent parts of your writing and prevent you from deviating too far from the topic at hand. For instance, if you’re emailing about a report due in three weeks, don’t send an email about another project that could be more beneficial to your reader.

Distinguishing Opinion From Facts
Two common types of business writing are opinion and facts, both needing distinct consideration. Unless you can guarantee that your views correspond with reality, readers won’t have confidence in what you have written.

Utilize Concise Sentences, Headings and Paragraphs
Effective business writing should be concise and to the point. Longer, complex sentences only confuse your reader; limit yourself to a few points and avoid using confusing or illogical language such as “as a result.”