Improving written and oral communication skills (2020)

26/10/2020

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Improving written and oral

communication skills (2020)

23rd October 2020

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The law as stated during this webinar is

up to date as of 21st October 2020

Improving written and oral

communication skills (2020)

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Client Services Director

Stratton Craig

Nina Whittaker

Claire Wilson

Head of Copy and Strategy

Stratton Craig


Agenda

Written communications

1. Why it matters

2. Tips to tailor your writing

3. Bringing it together

Oral communications

1. Why it matters

2. Tips to tailor your presentation style

3. Bringing it together

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Written communications


The curse of knowledge

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Keep it simple

“If you can't explain

it simply, you don't

understand it well

enough.”

- Albert Einstein


Dear Doris and Bertie…

“Write with a specific

person in mind.”

- Warren Buffett

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The power of clarity

Understanding

Trust

Persuasion


How to write with clarity - A helpful checklist

• How would I explain this to a smart person I know,

who's not an expert in this field?

• How do I start with what my readers don't yet know, rather

than what I know?

• Where are the points of greatest complexity, so that I can

slow down the pace of information?

• Have I used shorter words, sentences and paragraphs at

those critical points?

• Which are the effective numbers? Which are unnecessary

and can be avoided?

• Is there data that can be better represented in an image,

infographic or list?

• Where is the jargon? Which terms can be avoided? Which

must be 'translated'?

• Am I certain I have found the one key piece of info I want to

impart? Do all elements of the document support it?

• Can an analogy help me to take an unfamiliar concept and

make it familiar?

https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2020/20-questions-toward-achieving-civic-clarity-in-your-writing/

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Ask yourself

Is my writing so clear that a reader could pass along the most important information to another person?


A 5-minute planning tool

KNOW

FEEL

DO

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Let's practice

There is a change to an important process at

your firm.

You have been asked to notify staff, explain the

new process and ask for their cooperation.


Let's practice

KNOW

FEEL

DO

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Striking the right tone

A reminder that parents are required

to supervise their children at all times

when attending the Christmas Fair.

Remember, the teachers will be

off-duty, so you’ll need to keep an

eye on your children at the Fair.


Striking the right tone

Please ensure you familiarise yourself

with the new procedure and follow it

strictly at all times

Take some time to learn the new

procedure, because we’ll all need

to follow it closely.

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Bringing it together

• Go jargon free

• Respect your

audience’s

intelligence

• Write for clarity

• Plan for impact

(with our planning

tool)

• Consider your

tone


Oral communications

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Oral communication

“The single biggest

problem in

communications is the

illusion that it has

taken place.”

- George Bernard Shaw


It's not what you say, it's how you say it

55% - Non-verbal

38% - Your voice

7% - Content

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Improving non-verbal communication

Eyes Face Space


Think about your voice

Take it slow Record yourself Pause for effect

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Navigating data

⁄ 2.5 quintillion bytes

of data are produced

by humans every day

⁄ 95 million photos

and videos are

shared every day on

Instagram

⁄ Every day 306.4

billion emails are

sent


Some tools to help

/ Data visualisation / Analogies

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Communication styles

• Likes emotional language, wants to know what people are ‘really’ thinking.

• Likes process, detail, timelines. Step-by-step.

• Likes the big picture, not bogged down in detail, cuts to the chase.

• Likes hard data, real numbers, persuaded by facts and information.

Analytical Intuitive

PersonalFunctional


Bringing it together

• Remember the

non-verbal

• Use your voice

effectively

• Translate the data

for impact

• Consider different

communication

styles

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About Stratton Craig – Written Communications

30 years wiseWritten communication

specialistsBristol & London

Annual reports

to social mediaAll sectors

Agile, responsive,

flexible

You’ve probably

already seen our work We work globally Long lasting relationships


There's no such thing as a typical client

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London

2 Sheraton Street

Soho

London W1F 8BH

Bristol

The Penthouse

4th Floor 15 Colston Street

Bristol BS1 5AP

For enquires please contact 0203 301 3300

strattoncraig.com


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Improving written and oral communication skills (2020)

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