What I have learned

I have learned that the quality of any communication is determined by its usability and persuasiveness. Every communication makes an attempt to persuade the reader/listener to take some action. When writing the writer must constantly strive to keep the reader in mind. They must consider such things as who are the stake holders, what are they looking for, how will they use this information, are there any ethical considerations and is there anyone else that will see this communication. In addition the writer must consider the cultural background of their reader.

The format may vary between types of communication such as emails, memorandums, formal reports and speeches. Again, the common thread is that they all should be usable and persuasive. If a writer chooses to ignore the needs of the reader then the communication has little value.

I have noticed that my communication at work has improved greatly. Prior to this class I hadn't spent much time considering the needs of the reader. My writing was primarily focused on the information that I wanted to convey. I have really noticed this in my email communication. I have to spend less time explaining the purpose of my writing through multiple emails. This means my communication has become more efficient. This class has helped me more than I had initially thought possible.