| The term, "Effective Writing," is important to policies | | | | easy to apply to the work environment. |
| and procedures because the result of effective writing | | | | 3. Proficient and competent policies and procedures |
| is a document that is easy to read, understand, and | | | | suggest that the best solution was selected by those |
| apply by any reader. The term, "Effective Writing," | | | | individuals that assisted with the coordination of the |
| means different things to people and can give a | | | | draft policies and procedures. |
| different impression, subject to individual perceptions | | | | With good, effective writing, your chance of reader |
| based on each person's own experiences. Let me | | | | comprehension and compliance increases. Clear, easy |
| explain, the term effective is defined as producing a | | | | to read text and concepts are the goals of effective |
| decided, decisive, or desired effect. Synonyms to | | | | writing for the policies and procedures documents, for |
| effective are well-coordinated, competent, impressive, | | | | the policies and procedures writer, and for the reader. |
| powerful, convincing, and proficient. So what we have | | | | Now to the good stuff. The best way to accomplish |
| is a competent, impressive, proficient, and convincing | | | | effective writing in policies and procedures is to use a |
| writing style for policy and procedure writers. Applying | | | | writing format, a template for laying out the necessary |
| this definition and synonyms to writing policies and | | | | text that communicates your policy and procedure |
| procedures, these descriptive words focus on quality, | | | | message. Simple, yes. Think about it. Without a |
| productivity, efficiency, user buy-in and acceptance, | | | | template that guides the reader through the content, |
| structured writing format, easy-to-read content, and | | | | how could a reader completely and reliably understand |
| thorough research and analysis...all elements of | | | | the content contained in a policy or procedure |
| effective writing. | | | | document? (Read my other articles on the importance |
| The benefits of writing well-coordinated, convincing, | | | | of the writing format) |
| proficient, and competent policies and procedures | | | | The purpose of any written document is to |
| include: | | | | communicate thoughts and information. If readers |
| | | | cannot understand a policy or procedure document, |
| 1. Well-coordinated policies and procedures imply that a | | | | communication is lost. The Writing Format can help you |
| problem, issue, or concern has been discussed with | | | | look good to your readers, whether you are or not, |
| process owners, management, users, and other | | | | because the writing format will naturally give your |
| individuals that may have a direct impact on or may be | | | | writing consistency and clarity of writing. |
| impacted by a forthcoming policy or procedure. | | | | The conclusion to this article is that effective writing, |
| 2. Convincing policies and procedures suggest that the | | | | coupled with a standard writing format, will help any |
| published policies and procedures contain benefits to | | | | would-be writer achieve praise for well-coordinated, |
| the reader, are easy to train, easy to understand, and | | | | proficient, and reliable policies and procedures. |