July 31, 2014

Leadership, teamwork, and writing with a clear purpose

Writing is often critical for professional teamwork, and team members and leaders communicate more effectively when they identify a primary purpose for every document they write — e.g., a quick email, a midway status report, or a presentation of findings for a journal. Team leaders often need to communicate a clear vision in writing — e.g.,

• To give team members precise information
• To persuade them of the importance of an activity
• Or to pass on clear instructions

Team members also need to have a clear grasp on the purpose of their emails and reports. A team often works more effectively when its members use writing to highlight a shared purpose — e.g.,

• By explaining they need further information
• By providing clear, informative progress updates
• Or by persuasively suggesting possible courses of action 

Consciously identifying your purpose and your business needs can benefit all of the long and short professional documents you write.