PROFESSIONAL PRESENCE Lesson 2 of Writing More Good Tracey Krska

INTRODUCTION

AGENDA Learning Objectives Levels of Formality Letter and Set Up Summary & Conclusion

LEARNING OBJECTIVES Apply levels of formality to business writing. Create professional-looking business correspondence.

LEVELS OF FORMALITY What is the initial consideration you make before any type of business writing? You are always a professional. In this business environment, you always represent The O’Neill Group.

LEVELS OF FORMALITY Two categories | Five degrees InformalFormal IntimateCasual ConsultativeSeriousCeremonial

LEVELS OF FORMALITY - INTIMATE Writing to a close friend or family members Using highly coded language Insider language Informal Formal Intimate Casual ConsultativeSeriousCeremonial

LEVELS OF FORMALITY - CASUAL When you write to friends or co-workers Use of jargon, informal sentences Insider language Informal Formal IntimateCasual ConsultativeSeriousCeremonial

LEVELS OF FORMALITY - CONSULTATIVE Business language Neutral tone Fewer contractions Informal Formal Intimate Casual Consultative SeriousCeremonial

LEVELS OF FORMALITY - SERIOUS Writing to an authority Serious tone No insider language, slang, or contractions Longer and formally structured Informal Formal Intimate CasualConsultative Serious Ceremonial

LEVELS OF FORMALITY - CEREMONIAL Prepared speeches Rehearsed & often read Language often elaborate Informal Formal IntimateCasualConsultativeSerious Ceremonial Weddings & funerals Dedications & toasts

WHAT TYPES OF WRITING? InformalFormal Personal Letters & Notes Memos Sales letters Tutorials Manuals Progress Reports Quarterly Reports Procedures Business plans Proposals Audits Legal briefs Incident reports

LETTERS Structure Where would you put a letter on the continuum? InformalFormal IntimateCasual ConsultativeSeriousCeremonial

How are they different from a letter? How are they the same?

REVISIONS How do we make this more effective? Add paragraph spacing. Add paragraph spacing. Add variety to sentence structure. Add variety to sentence structure. Make the content more professional. Make the content more professional. Proof for misspellings. Proof for misspellings. Make it “you” or “benefit” focused. Make it “you” or “benefit” focused.

SUMMARY Levels of formality Structure of letters Structure of s Professionalism adds to your writing presence! Creates trust. Creates trust. The perception of value is increased. The perception of value is increased.

CONCLUSION In many ways, your writing announces who you are. It’s you in writing.