Clear communications

Get a GRIP, part 4: the Plan

While this is part 4 of this series of posts, this is the fourth step in pre-writing—the stages you have to follow before you start writing even the first draft of your brilliant document. If you recall, I call the process “getting a GRIP.” G – goal or purpose—what you hope to achieve with your writing […]

Get a GRIP, part 3: the Idea

What is the one thing you have to say? The third step you have to take before your write anything is to decide on the main idea of your document. No matter how long or short it is, you have to be able to sum up the point in one clear, complete sentence. When U2 […]

Get a GRIP, part 2: the Reader

  What’s the most important part of writing? Right. The reader. Consider the readers’ needs. Write for them. Keep in mind why they should care about what you have to say. What’s in it for them? How can you make their lives or work easier or better? Why should they spend time reading or watching […]

Get a GRIP, part 1: the goal

In my last post, I outlined GRIP, which stands for the four steps that every writer should complete before starting to write: – set a Goal – know your Reader – state your main Idea – make a Plan, or an outline. This post focuses on the G: setting a goal. Communication as a tool […]

Writing tips: Persuade by making it matter to your audience

You can’t persuade an audience with unproven ideas, nor can you fire one up without appealing to their values. Read this opening to a seminar on secure information technology practices and then answer this question: do you care? “Why is security important to us? Because the effectiveness of our programs, activities and services depends on […]

Onboarding, buying-in and re-skinning: Gerunds gone wild

Today’s hottest buzzword is “onboarding.” A group of corporate Internet professionals has “onboarding” an official part of a major, inter-departmental project, as in “The onboarding phase will continue until buy-in has been obtained from a significant majority of players in this space.”  See what they’ve done here: defined one buzzword with another in a passive […]

Think of the children: what will happen if they learn sex exists?

News item: Ontario sex ed: Protesters disrupt school meeting Protesters turned out in force at a Scarborough school Thursday night, disrupting efforts by two local MPPs to discuss Ontario’s new sex ed curriculum.  The information session at Agincourt Collegiate Institute was cut short when demonstrators moved inside — chanting “We say no” at MPPs Soo Wong and Bas Balkissoon.    The new curriculum has […]