Module 3 is designed to help students to craft effective business messages. Students will learn how to plan, write, and complete business messages. No matter what kind of information you need to convey, your goal is to craft a message that is effective (it meets your audience's needs and gets your points across) and efficient (it makes the best use of your time and your audience's time). Successful communicators will tell you that audiences tend to greet incoming messages with a selfish question: "What's in this for me?" If your target readers or listeners don't think a message applies to them, or if they don't think you are being sensitive to their needs, they won't pay attention. You can improve your audience sensitivity by adopting the "you" attitude, maintaining good standards of etiquette, emphasizing the positive, and using bias-free language. The third step of the three-step writing process is made up of: revising your message to achieve optimum quality and then producing, proofreading, and distributing it. After you complete your first draft, you may be tempted to breathe a sigh of relief, send the message on its way, and move on to the next project. Resist that temptation. Successful communicators recognize that the first draft is rarely as tight, clear, and compelling as it needs to be. Careful revision improves the effectiveness of your messages and sends a strong signal to your readers that you respect their time and care about their opinions. Module Objectives After completing this module, you will be able to: Identify the steps involved in planning, writing, and completing effective business messages. Explain how establishing your credibility and projecting your company's image are vital aspects of building strong relationships with your audience. Identify the aspects of being sensitive to audience needs when writing business messages. Develop and/or improve your ability to use clear, concise language. Identify and correctly use grammar structures, word forms, punctuation and capitalization. Write and format effective memorandums. Memo 1: Positive Message Assignment: As the Human Resources Manager at XYZ Industries, Inc., it is your pleasure to announce the addition of annual performance-based bonuses for mid-level managers and above. These bonuses will require annual performance reviews to discern the amount of the bonus. Draft a memo explaining this scenario to this specific group of employees. The format of your memo tells your employees a lot about your sensitivity and professionalism. Since you do not want to upset any employees unnecessarily, you should also be conscious of your wording when explaining culturally-sensitive subjects. Pay particular attention to your memo's margins, line spacing, font type and size, and placement of memo parts such as the addressees, subject line, and body. Address the memo to all mid-level managers and above at your company. Recommended Organization Header: Begin your memo with the four standard memo heads (Date, To, From, Subject). Body/Discussion: In the first paragraph of the body, start off with the good news. Memos do not begin with greetings or salutations. Explain what factors could have contributed to this new development (i.e. increased sales, raising stock price, etc.) and why the decision was made to reward employees with the surplus funds. The second paragraph is where you explain the new process that the employees can expect. Outline the way that reviews will be handled, and by whom. Feel free to be creative (yet somewhat realistic) when outlining how the performance scores will translate into bonuses (i.e. tier system, seniority, contribution value). In the third paragraph, be sure to validate any anticipated concerns employees may have about this adjustment. Explain the greater benefit in the long-term this decision provides and conclude your memo by indicating how the reader may contact you if he/she has any questions. In general, this section should be "short & sweet," making sure that the employees know what is expected of them