Management Tip of the Day: Welcome Edits on Your Writing

Are you having trouble viewing this email? If so, click here to see it in a web browser. HOME   |   TIPS   |   BLOGS   |   THE MAGAZINE   |   BOOKS   |   STORE RSS   |   Mobile MARCH 20, 2013 Welcome Edits on Your Writing A good writer welcomes good edits. A bad writer resents them, seeing them only as personal attacks. Share your material while it's still rough — the feedback will help you improve it much faster than if you were toiling in isolation. Routinely ask your colleagues, including those you supervise, to read your drafts and suggest changes. Have them mark up the document and submit their revisions in writing, rather than in person where you might react defensively. Always thank them for their help. Encourage others on your team to seek out edits and offer them. Having room to improve should be the norm, not a sign of weakness. Today's Management Tip was adapted from the HBR Guide to Better Business Writing Buy the book to develop critical skills for writing clearly and persuasively » Share Today's Tip: FEATURED PRODUCT HBR Guide to Better Business Writing HBR Press Book DON'T LET YOUR WRITING HOLD YOU BACK. When you're fumbling for words and pressed for time, you might be tempted to dismiss good business writing as a nicety. But it's a skill you must cultivate to succeed: You'll lose time, money, and influence if your e-mails, proposals, and other important documents fail to win people over. The HBR Guide to Better Business Writing, by writing expert Bryan A. Garner, gives you the tools you need to express your ideas clearly and persuasively so clients, colleagues, stakeholders, and partners will get behind them. This book will help you: (1) Push past writer's block, (2) Grab — and keep — readers' attention, (3) Earn credibility with tough audiences, (4) Trim the fat from your writing, (5) Strike the right tone, and (6) Brush up on grammar, punctuation, and usage. ADVERTISEMENT Follow the Tip: PREVIOUS TIPS Try Out a Career by Volunteering Survive Networking Events by Being Generous 3 Ways to Use Persuasion to Get What You Need Eliminate Jargon from Your Next Presentation Make Your Writing Chronological Make the Most of Your Downtime Change Small Things, Not Your Entire Culture Build a Better Online Network Don't Make a Career Move You'll Regret How to Write Clearly All Previous Tips BEST SELLERS HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials HBR's 10 Must Reads Boxed Set HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations HBR Guide to Better Business Writing HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done Introducing Mobile ManageMentor Powered by the proven content of Harvard ManageMentor™ iTunes >> Android >> UNSUBSCRIBE   |   UPDATE YOUR PROFILE   |   MORE EMAIL NEWSLETTERS   |   PRIVACY POLICY Was this email forwarded to you? If so, sign up to start receiving your own copy. ABOUT THIS MAILING LIST You have received this message because you subscribed to the "Management Tip of the Day" email newsletter from Harvard Business Review. If at any point you wish to remove yourself from this list, change your email address, or sign up for other email newsletters and alerts, please visit the Harvard Business Review Email Newsletter Preference Center. OPT OUT If you do not wish to receive any email messages from Harvard Business Review, click here. ADVERTISE WITH HBR This enewsletter is read by thousands of decision makers every day. Learn more about connecting your brand with this audience. Copyright © 2013 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing | 60 Harvard Way | Boston, MA 02163 Customer Service: 800-545-7685 (+1-617-783-7600 outside the U.S. and Canada)