Effective Business Writing

ILM Endorsed Effective Business Writing Write high impact, accurate and concise emails, letters, professional reports and proposals Dubai, UAE 30 June – 3 July 2013 Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel

Doha, Qatar 6 – 9 October 2013 Grand Hyatt, Doha, Qatar

Top 5 Learning Objectives 1. Learn how to get your audience involved and interested 2. Use grammar effectively and simply for quick access to your messages 3. Structure your writing logically using Mind Maps to create flow 4. Be ahead of your competitors by updating your knowledge databases with RSS 5. Strip away the clutter and concentrate on what really matters

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About ILM The Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) is the UK’s largest awarding body for leadership and management qualifications. ILM partners with over 2,000 ILM-approved centres, comprising private training providers, further and higher education colleges, and employers delivering in-house management training.

When you register for an IIRME/ILM Endorsed Programme you can be sure that it is: 1. Practically based, and will complement your role at work 2. Expertly designed to meet the needs of leaders and managers across all business sectors 3. Supported by comprehensive learning resources 4. Externally recognised as a high quality programme Bonus: every learner registered on any type of ILM programme is automatically entitled to six months of free studying membership with ILM which brings a terrific range of benefits.

For full details of the benefits of studying membership please visit www.i-l-m.com/learn-with-ilm/371.aspx or email ilmcourses@iirme.com

Would you like to run this course in-house?

The in-house training division of IIR Middle East Tel: +971 4 407 2624 • Email: CTS@iirme.com www.iirme.com/cts

Assessment And Certification To be eligible for the ILM Certification you must successfully complete an assessment.

There will also be continuous assessment throughout the course. Full details of the writing task for the assessment will be provided by the course director at the course.

Delegates who do not pass the assessment, or who do not submit the assignment, will receive a Certificate of Attendance from IIRME.

Tel: +971 4 335 2437

www.iirme.com/buswriting

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Your Expert Course Director Anne McDougall is an international training and change consultant with over 20 years’ executive training experience in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and China.

She has a proven track record in creating organisational change and improvement through her design and delivery of training programmes.

She holds a Master’s Degree in Training and Development from the University of Sheffield and a Diploma in Voice Coaching from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

Anne is a skilled, imaginative trainer who, as well as being able to transfer skills, offers new insights to those communicating in English as a second language. She has a CELTA qualification from the University of Swansea.

As a published author of two books, Anne knows the challenges writers experience and she can guide them through these with ease.

Her membership of the IABC exposes Anne to all the latest techniques and best practice in communication, both written and verbal.

Anne writes all her own training material and her courses have been accredited by the IABC for ease of understanding and clarity.

The guidelines for good writing used on the course come from The Plain English Society.

Course Overview How does effective business writing deliver value for you and your business?

Many professionals spend up to three hours each day trying to express themselves in writing only to produce reports, memos and other correspondence that have little impact. The success of your business relies on getting your message across to your audience whether they are your customers or the people who work for you.

You rely on your basic writing skills to deliver results time after time. The ILM Endorsed Effective Business Writing course will help you to develop your skills further and learn how to write more effectively. The first part of the course will help you structure successful emails and letters that you will find valuable and useful in your professional life. The course then moves into tackling more advanced report writing skills. This is your best opportunity to develop your writing skills and make sure that your message is getting through accurately, clearly and simply.

With interesting case studies to practice on, you will find the ideas and inspiration to raise your written communication to the next level.

Course Objectives • Clarify your brief thoroughly before you start to write by asking the 6 WHs • Keep your vocabulary simple and free of jargon • Structure your sentences and paragraphs logically • Use the correct tone and write in the correct tense • Create an e-mail etiquette for your organisation • Develop templates for standard letters and e-mails • Use the KISS principle to ensure accuracy, brevity and clarity • Proof read your work systematically • Set and measure company standards for business documents

Who Is It For? This cutting edge training course has been tailor-made for managers and staff who would like to develop their writing skills and learn new techniques.

Attend This Practical Course And You Will: • Improve your writing confidence by using current business standards for English usage and clarity • Write effective correspondence and reports that get the results you want • Use templates and layout guidelines to streamline your writing process • Clarify your brief before writing to successfully tailor your style to your intended audience • Increase your credibility by communicating logically, concisely and professionally

• Ensure your written communication gets your message across clearly • Learn how to structure all types of formal written documents • Improve your internal and external communication • Avoid common errors of grammar and punctuation • Adapt your writing style according to the reader and the nature of the communication

Tel: +971 4 335 2437

www.iirme.com/buswriting

Fax: +971 4 335 2438

Email: register@iirme.com

ILM Endorsed Effective Business Writing Course Timings: Registration will be at 7.30 on the first day of the course.

Course sessions will start promptly at 08.00 and end at 14.30. There will be two short breaks for refreshments at appropriate times and lunch will be served at the end of each day’s sessions.

Course Outline Day One

Practical Exercise

Business Writing – The Basics

Using The Correct Tense • Present • Past • Future

The ABC Of Good Business Writing • Accuracy • Brevity • Clarity Practical Exercise Your Barriers To Good Writing • Group discussion on what makes it difficult Writing For Your Reader • How to clarify the aim of the document using the 6 WHs Practical Exercise Writing In Plain English • Using simple words rather than complex – two syllable words are best • Avoiding jargon, acronyms, abbreviations • How to edit your words and phrases for readability Practical Exercise How To Structure Your Sentences • Sticking to 10 – 16 words • Putting the most important point first: subject, verb and object • Using active verbs rather than passive Practical Exercise Paragraphs • Using four – five sentences on the same theme • How to ensure that your paragraphs link logically and make sense to your readers • Using signpost sentences first to grab the reader’s attention Practical Exercise

Day Two Business Writing – The Basics (Continued) Punctuation • Why we use it • Overview of key marks • Common errors to be aware of Practical Exercise The Clarity Index • Using the index to show how the business writing basics will keep your messages short and simple Style And Tone • Being courteous and considerate • Getting straight to the point • Using modern words and phrases

Practical Exercise Structuring Your Message Logically • Review your aim • SCRAP structure for memos and letters • Useful phrases for opening and closing your e-mails, letters, memos, reports Practical Exercise Producing Business Letters • Routine letters • Enquiries • Quotations • Orders • Requests for payment Practical Exercise Specialist Letters • Goodwill letters • Circulars • Personnel • Publicity material Practical Exercise Email Etiquette • Using the right tone to get your message across • How to start and end • Length and attachments • Filing and copying • Creating a company policy on email use Practical Exercise

Day Three Report Writing Researching Information And Gathering Material For Reports • Setting your time goals • Identifying your knowledge sources • Organising and grouping your material Practical Exercise Logical Sequencing Of Information • Making sure you have the best research resources available • Going back to your aim: Is it an informative or persuasive report?

• Brainstorming/researching the content • Linking the content logically • Using mind maps for speed and logic Practical Exercise

Tel: +971 4 335 2437

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Fax: +971 4 335 2438

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Dubai, UAE 30 June – 3 July 2013 Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel

Planning Your Informative Report – A Suggested Template • Title • Contents page • Executive summary • Introduction • Body of report • Conclusion • Recommendations • Appendix Practical Exercise Planning A Persuasive Report – A Suggested Template • The 5 Ps of persuasion: Structure introduced and explained • Highlighting the challenges of not having what you want the reader to buy into • Presenting your solutions • Selling solutions with SPACED and gearing them to the buying deciders • Making your proposal strong and definite Practical Exercise Layout • Developing standard templates for all your written documents • Understanding the importance of white space when agreeing margin sizes • Agreeing on font style and size • Guidelines on when to use bold • Headers and sub-headers • Using lists and bullet points • Justifications • Using pictures and diagrams • Headers and footers Practical Exercise

Day Four Technical Writing Technical writing will follow the same principles of clear writing presented on Day One, plus some specifics to the particular documents being produced.

The Different Types Of Technical Reports • Group discussion on technical reports and the main difficulties you experience How To Write A Business Case • Trying to anticipate in advance what might be coming up in the next six months • Deciding on an MTC template for the different types of business case • Knowing how to set the scene before you start • Writing headings which use strong verbs and specific nouns • Keeping your information specific rather than general

Doha, Qatar 6 – 9 October 2013 Grand Hyatt, Doha, Qatar

• How to format your case to ensure you understand the importance of finding a solution • Getting the decision makers to go with your case by showing them “what is in it for them” • Making a very strong proposal in your case Practical Exercise How To Write Agendas For Meetings • Agreeing to a template • How many items to include • Should you leave out Any Other Business (AOB)?

• Who is responsible for compiling the agenda?

• Who will distribute and when?

Practical Exercise How To Write Minutes Of Meetings • Liaising with the chair • Agreeing how much you will record • Making sure the chair introduces the topic and summarises • Recording the actions with dates and actions • Using aids to help you record the meeting accurately • Using Plain English to ensure clarity Practical Exercise How To Present Financial Reports • Presenting figures creatively • Keeping the information short and simple • Making the best use of graphics to get your message across Practical Exercise Project Management Reports • Creating templates • Using the best diagrams, flow diagrams and Gantt charts • Understanding the best type of report for the different stages of the project Practical Exercise Proof Reading • The common mistakes • Making sure you set enough time aside • Testing it with your readers Practical Exercise Course Summary and Action Plans During the course you will receive individual coaching to ensure that you have understood all the points covered and know how to progress to the next stage of your development.

An on-line resource, where you can send reports for review and comment, will also be available for one month after the course.

Tel: +971 4 335 2437

www.iirme.com/buswriting

Fax: +971 4 335 2438

Email: register@iirme.com

ILM Endorsed Effective Business Writing

30 June – 3 July 2013 Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel, Dubai, UAE

6 – 9 October 2013 Grand Hyatt, Doha, Qatar

FIVE WAYS TO REGISTER +971 4 335 2437

IIR Holdings Ltd. P.O Box 9428 Dubai, UAE

+971 4 335 2438 register@iirme.com

www.iirme.com/buswriting

DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE FOR 2 OR MORE PEOPLE CALL – +971 4 335 2483 E-MAIL – a.watts@iirme.com Event (Dubai)

ILM Endorsed Effective Business Writing (BC4914) 30 June – 3 July 2013

Event (Doha)

WEB BC4914/BC5064

ILM Endorsed Effective Business Writing (BC5064) 6 – 9 October 2013

Course Fee Before 14 April 2013

Course Fee Before 5 May 2013

Final Fee

US$ 3,895

US$ 4,395

US$ 4,695

Course Fee Before 21 July 2013

Course Fee Before 11 August 2013

Final Fee

US$ 3,895

US$ 4,395

US$ 4,695

Course fees include documentation, luncheon and refreshments. Delegates who attend all sessions will receive a Certificate of Attendance.

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