Making Yourself Understood

Dearlove, D. & Crainer, S. (2003). Making yourself understood. In P. De Palma (Ed.), Computers in society (pp. 54-59). Dubuque, IA: McGraw-Hill.
Unit , Article 13

Review by Kim Doyle

"In the age of technology, writing skills are more important than ever" submits Stuart Crainer and Des Dearlove in this article (pg. 54). Business leaders have more ways of communicating that they have ever had before, including e-mail, text instant messaging, video-conferencing and much, much more. These executives no longer rely on secretaries to correct and filter messages before sending them off to their intended recipients. They are responsible for creating their own messages and deliver them instantly. Crainer and Dearlove suggest a downside to this. Messages can now be easily misunderstood if they aren't lost in the deluge of messages flooding email inboxes.

The authors state that, regardless of these digital options, writing is still a fundamental skill necessary for good communication. Some believe that multimedia technology diminishes the need for strong writing skills. Don Spetner, senior Vice President for global marketing of a recruitment firm believes this is a misconception. Writing is still a very important core executive skill. Executives are spending more and more time writing. Email is one attributing factor to this. Hours are spent each day reviewing and responding to email. Jeff Skill, former eBay president believes that despite this time spent on email and in front of the commuter, communication skills are declining.

Crainer and Dearlove continue by stating that the style of business writing is also changing. There is a growing need for executives to ensure their communication is clear, direct and when necessary, personal. No longer relying on a hierarchy to get things done, executives communicate directly to guide, state expectations, persuade and inspire.

Instant messaging is a sign that things could get even worse. At a time when written communication is becoming more important than ever before, we are faced with the challenges of interpreting oddly abbreviated language, misspelled words, jargon, poor punctuation and terrible grammar.

Many executives who are discovering the need to improve their writing skills are finding help is now available. Writing coaches, classes and ghostwriters are on hand to assist those challenged by less than adequate writing ability. Communication consultant Lynne Kearney says the explosion of electronic information distribution provides "enormous opportunity and an enormous amount of content to be digested" (pg. 58). Previously having worked with business leaders to develop writing courses, Kearney says they now receive calls directly from senior managers requesting highly customized programs with the right content and packaged to grab readers' attention.

As the authors state, it is necessary now more than ever, to have the "write stuff" (pg. 59) and an accurate self-awareness of one's ability.

Reaction

Writing is a necessary skill for my work. I write a great deal creating various types of documents. Many of these are instructional and serious consequences will result if they are not very readable and carefully understood. I am also critical of others' writing and become impatient when I do not understand something someone else has written. I believe the digital methods of communicating used so profusely do draw attention to the fact that writing is not a skill everyone has mastered. With email we are now recipients of quickly crafted messages that with a touch of a send button our sender has informed or confused. This article has presented a perspective that I've not given much thought. I agree however, that having the "write" stuff is essential.