Write to be Understood & Speak to be Heard

Patrick IbarraThe Mejorando Group

Presenter

Patrick IbarraFormer City Manager and Founder of The Mejorando Group(925)518-0187patrick@gettingbetterallthetime.comwww.gettingbetterallthetime.com

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Today’s Presenter

“Growth and

Comfort Don’t

Co-Exist”3

“You are not the

audience for your

message”4

1. Organizing2. Writing3. Editing

Writing is a Three-Step ProcessWriting is a Three-Step Process

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1. Asterisk (*) – Most Popular Items

2. Box () – Most Challenging to Write

3. Two (2) Things Related to Writing they would like to achieve

InstructionsInstructions

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We must adapt our writing style according to who the reader is, to what our intent is, and to the current situation in which we are writing.Write for your ReaderWrite for your Reader

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• UNDERSTANDABLE writing is clear and direct.• AVOID repetitiveness and generalizations.• AVOID too much jargon.• SEQUENCE ideas and thoughts logically. ORGANIZE a plan before you write.• USE more simple sentences and fewer complex sentences.• BE persuasive and GIVE your writing punch to keep it from being boring and impersonal.

Writing TipsWriting Tips

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Write a letter of support for an employee suggestion on how to reduce inefficient steps in a process. 

Write a report to your manager notifying them of activities that occurred while they were out of the office on a one week vacation. 

Write a memo to staff announcing a new vacation policy.

  Write a press release announcement of a new City

service or program.

wRite for your ReaderwRite for your Reader

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Abstract or ConcreteAbstract or Concrete

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A. QualityB. GardenC. Personality D. Maintenance E. ExperienceF. Jeep

• Classification• Cause-and-effect analysis• Process analysis• Comparison and Contrast• Illustration

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Organizing ParagraphsOrganizing Paragraphs

Who are we? A Change and Organizational Consulting practice.What do we do? Partner with government leaders to implement solutions that improve organizational performance.How do we do that? We provide expertise in:

Leading ChangeRAPID InnovationOrganizational Effectiveness StrategiesSuccession PlanningStrategic PlanningLeadership and Management Skills Training

How do you contact us? Patrick Ibarra, 925-518-0187 or patrick@gettingbetterallthetime.com Web address: www.gettingbetterallthetime.com

Our mission is to help organizations and their members “get better all the time”

The Mejorando Group

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