Writing for impact
The Importance of Writing Skills in a Digital Age
This episode features a compelling discussion with guest expert Grace Aldridge Foster. We explore the critical role of writing for impact in internal communications and employee engagement, especially in a world increasingly influenced by social media and artificial intelligence (AI).
Here are the key takeaways from our conversation that you won’t want to miss:
Why Writing For Impact Still Matters
- Essential Skill: Despite the rise of social media and AI, writing remains a cornerstone of effective communication in professional settings.
- First Impressions: Your writing often serves as the first impression others have of you, making it crucial for your professional reputation.
Common Writing For Impact Challenges
- Audience Awareness: Many struggle with adjusting their tone and content to suit their audience, often due to a lack of empathy.
- Generational Differences: Younger employees may use informal language and shorthand, which can lead to misunderstandings in a corporate context.
- AI Influence: While AI tools like ChatGPT can assist in content creation, they lack the nuance and depth of human writing.
Strategies for Improvement
- Read Aloud: This simple practice can help catch errors and improve the flow of your text.
- Seek Feedback: Constructive criticism from peers or mentors can provide valuable insights.
- Utilise AI Wisely: Use AI for brainstorming but ensure the final product retains a human touch.
- Practice Regularly: Writing, like any skill, improves with regular practice.
The Role of Social Media
- Changing Communication: Social media has introduced new ways to connect but has also led to a decline in formal writing skills.
- Audience and Context: Recognising the audience and context is crucial for effective communication, especially in professional settings.
Guest profile
Grace Aldridge Foster works to demystify the writing process for her clients. Many of the professionals she’s worked with believe they are bad at writing and don’t enjoy doing it. Contrary to popular belief, writing isn’t an art that a few people are born with the ability to do; it’s a science, and everyone can learn to do it better.
What’s more, we all have to do it, so shouldn’t we all learn to do it better? This principle drives the approach at Bold Type, the training and consulting firm Grace founded with her partner, Casey Mank, in 2018.
Useful links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-aldridge-foster/
Website: https://www.boldtype.us
Workshops: https://learning.communicationsboard.org/courses/writing-editing-for-communicators
Episode links:
Link to a relevant episode of the podcast: https://thebigpicturepeople.co.uk/blog/podcast/using-traditional-comms-channels-effectively/