What does “walk the little girl across the street” mean?
It’s a story to remind writers that they are responsible to lead the reader through the message from the beginning to the ending. Here’s the story.
You are walking with a sweet 3 year old little girl at your side; perhaps she is your daughter, niece, or granddaughter. In the moment, she sees an ice cream store across the street and immediately starts running towards it. Yikes…you run and catch her quickly, all the while thinking “ice cream sounds delicious.” So, bend down to place your face to face with hers and you tell her, “Yes, let’s get some ice cream, but let’s walk not run to the store.” She smiles and agrees. You reach out to hold her hand, and she places her hand in yours. Because you know that she has not yet learned how to cross a street safely, and know you must accept the responsibility communicate carefully in order to keep her safe. You look around the environment and start thinking about all the items you need to say and what words you need to use to instruct her.
The following is the process.
Step 1: Think first. Here are some questions to ask yourself. (No writing yet.)
- What is my purpose? What do I want the reader to takeaway with them? What do I want them to do? Your job here is to be clear on your outcome objective and orient to that need.
Step 2: Contemplate the audience. (Still no writing the document yet.)
- Examine your audience. Think about the listener. Each of us has a unique filter to which we process the world. Our personal filters are created from our parents, from our culture, from our experiences, and from our many relationships. Here is a list of questions to ask yourself.
- What does your audience know on the subject?
- How does your audience feel about the topic?
- Which medium is the best way to connect (e-mail, memo, letter, booklet, postcard, phone-call, etc.)
- What does he/she want regarding this message or need?
- What ideas do you have about them to get their attention?
Step 3: Narrow your focus.
- You have a limited about of time and space to convey your message. Be sure you narrow your focus as is appropriate as to relay the “correct” amount of information. This decision links to step 1 – what is your purpose.
Step 4: Develop the content. (Okay, now you can start with a list.)
- Make a list of the points you need to make.
- After you listed all that you can think of (or gather and list), categorize them. Eliminate items that do not link to your narrowed focus.
Step 5: Choose your organization structure – the Direct or Indirect, and more.
- The Direct approach for an audience who are receptive to your message. You state upfront your intention.
- The Indirect approach is for those who are resistant to what you have to say. You build your evidence and support then present the perceived unfavorable information.
| Patterns | Description |
| Sequential | Consecutive order (not related to time) |
| Chronological Cause and Effect | Consecutive order related to time – if this, then that |
| Spatial | Top to bottom, front to back, etc. |
| Division/Classification | Parts and groups of parts by category |
| Decreasing order of importance | Most important to least important |
| Increasing order of importance | Least important to most important |
| General to specific | Overview to details |
| Comparison | Item to item |
| Academic ( indirect) | Introduction, body points detailing analysis, conclusion with recommendations |
Step 6: Decide on supporting visuals.
What pictures can you use to deliver your message? Remember pictures are understood 600 times faster than words.
Step 7: Write
In your writing, an important tactic in coherence and flow is excellence in paragraphing. Just as a document needs structure, paragraphs need structure. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence – tell the reader what you are going to talk about. Then talk about it – give details and supportive information. Remember, transitions are needed between sentences and between paragraphs too.
Successful Business Communication 