Send to KindleLeadership is Communication: Speaking With Your Pen
I supposed I should call this Speaking With Your Keyboard since most written communication is composed on computers these days. Whether you use a pen, pencil, or computer, writing is a critical leadership skill.
I’m amazed at the low quality of the written word lately among young leaders. I blame computers. I’ve observed that writing skill has appeared to decline as the PC became more common. An interesting development considering those very same PCs should have made better writing easier. What they did was make people lazy.
How does good writing make you a better leader? Strictly speaking writing alone doesn’t make you a better leader. Good communication through the written word will make you a more effective leader. Here are two reasons why.
1. Just as when you speak, you write to get a point across. But, with writing you often don’t get a chance to answer questions, observe reactions, or clarify what you said. What you write must be able to stand alone.
2. Writing, especially in today’s internet age, has a very long life span. What you write has to stand the test of time. I don’t mean like a classic novel, but as a form of communication that may be around long after you’ve moved on.
Is your leadership effectiveness hampered by poor writing?
