Crafting a message is just that – a crafting. You must stop and reflect and think. Use Spring 2016 Communication Strategy Worksheet Exec Ed worksheet and the following questions to guide you in your planning and decision-making.
1. Who is your audience? Describe them (see the page on Audience Analysis).
2. What is your purpose? You have to sure of your needs and intended outcomes, as your message needs to be created to achieve this purpose.
3. What is your focus? On every topic, there are lots of possibility of information to include. However, be sure you stay on point.
4. Included in creating the story, is the decision of the emotion. What emotion do your want your audience to feel? Is there more than one emotion – from what feeling to what feeling?
5. What format is appropriate for your message? Letter, memo, email, phone, voice mail, video, face-to-face, meeting, etc.
6. What is the approach? Direct (stating the purpose in the opening) or indirect (presenting the evidence first).
7. Brainstorm the introduction. It’s the most critical aspect. You need to get their attention in order to maintain their attention.
8. List the body points. Then group the points into like-kind groups. Eventually these items equate to headings or perhaps paragraphs.
9. Brainstorm your conclusion. What do you want them to remember – the feeling to take with them when they leave.
10. What visuals help tell your story?
Successful Business Communication 