Choosing Your Words Wisely: A Simple Step to Better Business Writing

The written documents your company produces, from marketing brochures and sales letters to formal reports and e-mails to customers, create tangible, concrete samples of the work your company produces. What do your documents say about your organization? Are they well written, well edited, and professionally formatted and designed? Do your written words reflect the quality of work your organization is able to produce?

Choosing Your Words Wisely: A Simple Step to Better Business Writing will discuss how word choice and phrasing can positively or negatively impact the quality of your documents and, in turn, the perceptions of your company.

This audio conference, led by freelance copyeditor Kim M. Gessner CPS/CAP, will cover the following topics:

• The importance of good business writing in general and strong word choice in particular.
• Basic concepts of good business writing.
• Grammar concepts in plain language, using examples of good and bad grammar constructions and emphasizing word choice.
• Easily confused words and easy tricks to remember which is which.
• The advantages and pitfalls of the revision process.

Learning Objectives:

• Explain the importance of good business writing in general and strong word choice in particular.
• Explain basic concepts of good business writing.
• Explain grammar concepts in plain language, using examples of good and bad grammar constructions and emphasizing word choice.
• Discuss (a few) easily confused words and provide easy tricks to remember which is which.
• Discuss the advantages and pitfalls of the revision process.

Presented by:

Kim M. Gessner CPS/CAP earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Florida in 1997 and completed her Master of Arts Degree in English at UF in 1999. As a graduate student, Kim taught “Business and Technical Writing” and “Freshmen Composition” to freshmen and sophomores.

Kim has been an administrative professional for almost ten years. She began her career as an administrative assistant in 2000 in Baltimore, Maryland, where she was hired as the second assistant to the vice chairman of the board at a prestigious investment banking firm. Since that time, Kim has worked in a variety of industries, including catering, construction, engineering, and environmental consulting. She also worked as a recruiter for a staffing agency, which provided her with insight into the practices companies use to hire new employees and allowed her to use her writing skills to assist job seekers polish their résumés. Although she is currently (and happily) employed, Kim also performs proofreading and copyediting services as an independent contractor.

Kim joined the Winter Park Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals in 2007. Since becoming a member, she has taken advantage of the opportunities to increase her knowledge and improve her skills. She earned her Certified Professional Secretary rating in November 2008 and her Certified Administrative Professional rating in May 2009. Kim has used her writing experience to serve the Winter Park Chapter by performing as Chair of the Newsletter Committee. She is also created the event programs for the Florida Division’s annual meeting in June 2009.

Kim is dedicated to promoting the development of strong writing skills in managers and administrative professionals as a way to positively impact business in all industries.

Who would benefit from this program:

• Managers
• Directors
• Executives
• Supervisors

Product Options:

• Audio Conference CD Only: $229.00 (includes S&H)
• Audio Conference CD with Communication Briefings Newsletter: $310.00 (includes S&H)

Communication Briefings is a monthly newsletter that provides subscribers with down-to-earth communication ideas and techniques they can put into action to persuade clients, influence peers and motivate employees. The advice offered in each issue will help readers earn approval, command respect, spur productivity, gain recognition and win public support.

Length: 1 hour 30 minutes