Mastering a Polished, Genuine, and Business-Like Writing Style
In the digital age, effective written communication has become more important than ever. A new guide by Silke Heimes, a physician, professor, author, and writing therapist, offers practical exercises to help individuals identify and strengthen their authentic voice in written communication.
Understanding Your Natural Voice
One effective method to understand one's natural voice is through journaling. This private writing from oneself to oneself can reveal personal writing habits, such as the use of curse words and sentence fragments, that may not be appropriate in professional writing. Regular journaling can also help one write more easily and with less censorship, aiding in self-assessment of one's authentic voice.
Seeking Feedback
Seeking feedback from people close to you or AI can provide insights into how others perceive one's communication style and voice. The guide suggests using a prompt that provides adjectives to analyze the tone in a sample, presented in a table format.
While AI, such as ChatGPT, can be useful for seeking feedback on one's communication style, it's important to remember that the program isn't confidential, so sensitive information should not be shared.
Comparing and Defining Your Voice
Comparing one's personal writing voice to the voice described in a personal voice statement can help gauge the authenticity of the planned voice. It's essential to define how one would like to come across, considering goals and common audiences.
Consistency is Key
Consistent writing is crucial for creating a cohesive, consistent reputation or brand. The first impression made on a new person through writing can be a lasting impression, good or bad. Therefore, maintaining a consistent voice is crucial for building trust and credibility.
The Impact of Delivery and Tone
Tone is interpreted differently in written communication compared to spoken communication. People are likely to read written communication in a harsher tone than intended due to their brains' negativity bias. Delivery is difficult in writing due to the lack of body language and facial expressions.
Albert Mehrabian's 7-38-55 rule suggests that literal words account for only 7% of a message's impact, vocal intonation accounts for 38%, and body language for 55%. This rule highlights the importance of considering tone and delivery in written communication.
Practical Exercises
The guide provides three practical exercises to help identify and strengthen one's authentic voice in written communication. These exercises include defining one's personal voice statement, analysing one's writing style, and seeking feedback from others or AI.
Writing, even if not considered a primary focus, significantly impacts the way others perceive you professionally. By following the practical exercises in this guide, individuals can work towards developing a consistent, authentic voice in their written communication.
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