Report Writing Course
Availability: In-Company
Why attend?
Creating a well written report is one of the ways successful business people establish their credibility and communicate their ideas. This highly practical course will give you the skills to plan, research and structure your reports effectively. Participants will have the opportunity to analyse their work, review examples of good and bad reports and receive detailed feedback on ways to further develop their skills.
Who is it for?
This course is suitable for anyone who wants to produce professional reports, wants to structure the material more effectively and write in a way that convinces their readers
What you will learn
The Fog Factor
- Assessing how easy a report is to read
- Identifying your current fog factor
- Barriers to effective written communication
What a report is and is not
- The function of reports in business
- How reports differ from other forms of written communication, such as emails, letters and memos
- Defining the aim and objectives
The characteristics of a typical report
- Why basing a report on evidence is important
- Getting the tone right for the readers
- Writing with your specific audience in mind
Reports from hell
- What drives people crazy when they receive a report
- Why reports are sometimes difficult to read
The Planning Stage: The Who? Why? and What? of the Report
- Knowing/understanding your audience
- Being clear about the purpose and knowing what to include – the terms of reference, length, degree of formality
The four stages of report writing
- Researching and understanding the material
- Organising and structuring – producing a well sequenced report
- Writing a report
- Carrying out a critical review and revising
Secrets of masterful writing
- Why being concise, varying sentence length and using simple words are vital
- Opening with impact and creating interest by including stories
- The importance of using jargon and acronyms carefully
- Carrying out a thorough final check before sending the communication
Speaking the reader’s language
- Writing in a range of 'representational' systems: Visual, Kinaesthetic and Auditory
- Matching tone, length and style
- Writing with conviction to persuade others
Presentation and layout for a professional report
- Making your report look interesting, attractive and readable
- Choosing an appropriate typeface and visual aids
- Using an Executive Summary
Elements of grammar and punctuation
- Key points you must remember about grammar
- The importance of accurate punctuation
Benefits to you and your organisation
- Identify and meet the needs of your reader
- Research, gather and organise material effectively
- Communicate clearly and concisely using appropriate language
- Get your key messages across clearly and avoid common business writing errors
- Bring reports to life with 'flavour' such as anecdotes and examples
- Structure and lay out your reports to a professional standard
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