Sick of wasting time chasing up unanswered emails? Sick of explaining over the phone things you already said in an email? Sick of long, drawn out email conversations where people keep asking questions you feel you've already answered?

Some of us spend up to 75% of our workday emailing. It's usually an incredible inefficient use of our time. But following some simple principles to structure an email can: - ensure your emails actually get read! - get your key messages across almost instantly - get quick responses - get the answers and actions you're looking for - ultimately, SAVE YOU TIME And, people will love working with you - you'll get a reputation for being efficient, friendly but no nonsense, and easy to work with.

Group Training only - minimum 4 attendees required to run this course. Please enquire for alternative training options at [email protected]

Anyone who writes emails, for any reason.

None - please bring your own documents to work on (if any)

Upon completion of this course the attendee will understand how to write emails that people will read and respond to. Improve productivity for both the writer and reader. This course has an emphasis on the practical to make sure you leave able to apply the skills immediately. In other words, you'll LEARN and PRACTICE: - how to structure an email to fit its purpose - the subtleties of tone in business writing - how to grab your reader's attention without gimmicks - how to be direct but not blunt - how to get action and outcomes through email - international Plain Language approaches - current trends in business writing. You'll get tools, principles, and processes to use every time you write an email. We'll use scenarios to practice, then you'll review and redevelop your own emails. If you have a need for customisable standard email structure, we can guide you through constructing those, too.

How to structure an email to fit its purpose

• identifying the purpose
• identifying the reader(s)
• getting right down to it - what's not needed

The subtleties of tone in business writing

• what is tone
• the tone spectrum
• choosing your words to create tone and engender the right emotional responses

How to grab your reader's attention without gimmicks

• the BLUF approach
• the importance of structure in emails

How to be direct but not blunt

• active voice
• tone setting tools
• the power of headings and bullets

How to get action and outcomes through email

• putting messages and actions in the right place
• de-cluttering key messages

International Plain Language approaches

• what is Plain Language
• 4 P's (practical, positive, professional,personal)

Current trends in business writing

• Plain Language
• reader-centric approach
• writing to establish, maintain, strengthen relationships