The Power of Plain Talk governor平原谈话的权力.wa.gov.pptVIP

In summary… Plain talk is not rocket science. And it’s not literature…. It’s communicating…. Giving people information… Speaking their language… Anticipating their questions… The best way to test your messages? Try them out on a coworker or family member. Ask them to read your document and tell you what they think it says. You will probably be surprised—and not in a good way. A final word… One should aim not at being possible to understand, but at being impossible to misunderstand. Quintilian, Roman teacher of rhetoric and oratory Some excellent onlinePlain Talk resources: Governor Gregoire’s Web site Plain L Plain Talk Basics How to get your message across to your readers What is Plain Talk? Clear communication that answers the reader’s questions Concise communication that considers the reader’s time Well designed documents that guide the readers to key points and required action JOB #1 As a writer, your one and only job is to be understood by your audience So, Plain Talk rule # 1 is know your audience Rule #1 Your message should answer the following questions: What information do you have that they need to know? Why do they need to know it? Do they need to do something with it? When do they need to do it? Some Plain Talk Basics Make sure you and your reader are speaking the same language Avoid acronyms and jargon Use active voice Use pronouns Use common, everyday words Keep sentences and paragraphs short Use logical organization Use headlines and bulleted lists as guideposts What is jargon? Jargon is shorthand that we use to communicate with each other. This is the RFP for the new TPA at UMP. I have to drop it off at OFM before PEBB’s FSA meeting today. I have to go to a meeting on BHP recert procedures, but I can meet you for lunch if we can get back in time for FAB’s GMAP presentation at 1 o’clock. We know jargon when we hear it, but we may not recognize it when we use it. Here are some terms