Effective Communications "To lead effectively requires a command of communicative skills. Teaching, writing, briefing, and speaking are unavoidable. Leaders who lack competence in these areas waste their own time and that of their soldiers and superiors. - General William Richardson "Our soldiers deserve leaders who think and communicate clearly and concisely. Anything less wastes time, money, and possibly lives.“ - General Maxwell Thurman

Reasons for Communication Skills by Leaders Increases likelihood of right decision Affects Mission Accomplishment Time Often Critical All the facts Lives Could Depend on it

Effective Army Writing “Effective Army writing transmits a clear message in a single, rapid reading and is generally free of errors in grammar, mechanics and usage.” “ Good Army writing is concise, organized, and right to the point.” --AR 25-50, Preparing and Managing Correspondence “

Step 1 - Understand your writing task and your writing conditions Step 2 - Gather and organize your ideas Step 3 - Write a complete draft Step 4 - Edit your draft ruthlessly Step 5 - Fight for feedback Step 6 - Go final and proof it The Six-Step Writing Process

Rule 1 - Use mostly short, conversational words Rule 2 - Write Short Sentences Rule 3 - Prefer active voice Rule 4 - Write short paragraphs Rule 5 - Write short papers Rule 6 - Put the main idea up front Rule 7 - Be correct, credible, and complete The Seven Rules

Types of Army Correspondence & Documents Memorandum Letter OPORDER SOP (Standard Operating Procedures) DA and DD Forms

The Army’s main format for preparing correspondence. The Basic or Formal Memorandum: The Informal Memorandum. The Memorandum For Record. The Memorandum of Agreement (or Understanding). The Memorandum

Myths Military writing requires formality “I” and other personal pronouns don’t belong It forces me into an unnatural style It promotes “Dick and Jane” writing It contradicts what I learned in school It results in incomplete staff work

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