Getting the Tone and Style Right for a Persuasive Message

This activity is important because you will often need to persuade others in the workplace.

The goal of this activity is to demonstrate your understanding of principles for effective tone and style in persuasive messages.

Read the case and answer the questions that follow.

Fahida is the CEO of a midsize software development firm. For the past two years, employees have been able to choose whether to work at home or work at the office. Most employees work two or three days per week at home and about two or three days per week at the office. About $30$ percent of employees work exclusively from home. Fahida$$s leadership team has examined productivity data and found that employees who come to the office at least a few times per week are far more productive. She doesn$$t want to take away the employees$$ choice of where to work, but she wants to encourage employees to voluntarily come to the office more often. She drafts the following message:

$(1)$ SUBJECT: Please Come Back

Dear colleagues:

We miss you and hope you come back to the office more often if it supports your lifestyle.

$(2)$ We have examined productivity patterns at the company and have found that those employees who come to the office two or three times per week are far more productive. We estimate the organization would be $15$ percent more productive if all employees adopted this hybrid approach. The company would increase revenue by roughly $$2$ million per quarter.

$(3)$ Employees who work in the office have many opportunities. They may have productive meetings and many collaborative relationships with colleagues across the organization. These employees also are the first to be eligible for rotational leadership development programs and other critical professional development opportunities.

$(4)$ Employees who do not participate in developmental programs, such as the rotational leadership program, are far less likely to find additional professional opportunities and promotions. Employees who do not come to the office also have fewer opportunities to work closely with senior leaders.

$(5)$ Please contact your manager to discuss your preferred work arrangements.

Best wishes,

Fahida

What principle of persuasion is most important to apply to Statement $2?$