The Power of Writing More Than One Draft – Think Before You Hit "Send"

Drafts are not just for professional writers, like novelists and journalists. Drafts are useful for short messages, not just lengthy, formal documents. Drafts can help even with mundane, business communications in an email. When you apply writing drafts to your everyday communications, you tend to end up with communications that are more clear. In business, clarity improves the chances that everyone will be on the same page, the team can work in unison, and thus work with more speed and efficiency. By contrast, when the team works in a disjointed manner, you waste time, money, and effort. 

Does that mean that you have to have a lengthy process before sending each email? No. You probably do not have time for that. What it does mean is that when you have the opportunity, put the email aside for a few minutes, then go back and re-read it to make sure it says what you want it to say. You will find you have added in extraneous things are not helpful or find that you have forgotten to add points you initially intended. 

Sometimes, you will not have the few extra minutes. In that case, re-read your email at least once before you send it. When you reread your email, ask yourself a few questions like, 
What is missing from this?  

  • Will the recipient understand? 

  • Is there anything else that they need to know? 

  • What unnecessary things can I cut that might make this message less confusing? 

Simple, basic strategies like these can improve the clarity of your communications. 

To learn more about how you as a health care professional can learn and refine your business writing, please check out my book:A Business Writing Toolbox For Healthcare Professionals

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