Effective Report Writing

Effective Professional Report Writing Objectives
Everyone will have the practical opportunity to explore producing reports which are:

* Easy to read
* Easy to understand
* Easy to act upon

Our Effective Professional Report Writing workshop aims to:

* Demystify the whole process
* Define and clarify report writing protocols
* Explore practical ways to plan and get started
* Look at techniques to fine tune your professional tone
* Practice editing the finished article
* Build your confidence
* Help you display your highest professional standards



Effective Professional Report Writing Programme
The course content may include many of the exercises listed below, and any additional material that the trainers feel is relevant to the delegates on the day.


Our Style
We don't deliver "sheep dip" training. We don't talk at people. We don't follow scripts. We do follow what the aspiring or developing Report writers in the room want on any particular day.

We appreciate that the majority of our attendees are experienced professionals, usually busy people who want practical solutions and fresh ideas. They want to apply what they have learnt, at work tomorrow.
Your Values and Style
On our writing courses we always like to have a look in advance at your style and so we ask you to send us a few sample reports. Some of the type you don't want and some that are expected of you.

During our workshop, the critique of each person’s report writing style will be focussed, as much as possible, on what works and on finding solutions for what doesn't work so well. Our criticism will be constructive and specific - we make sure it always has a positive, practical slant so that no one feels discouraged.
Impact Factory - How we Work
Everything we do is participative and interactive. Inevitably, with Report Writing, there will be a need to clarify best practice. Our focus nonetheless, will always be light-hearted and intended to equip and share a variety of tools and insights that will help our delegates to produce effective professional reports.

Less 'chalk and talk' there will be pair work, group work and practical individual writing exercises designed to stimulate, challenge, develop and inspire people.

There will also be an element of light-hearted fun!
Some of our values relevant to Report Writing include:
Building upon your existing strengths
Reflecting upon the impact of each person's unique communication style
Sharing practical ways to avoid miscommunication
Finding small, do-able changes for the biggest impact
Exploring further options
Knowing there is always something else to try in their writing

Impact Factory workshops offer two trainers, who work with small groups – preferably of no more than 8 delegates. As a result each delegate is guaranteed personalised support, which doesn’t end necessarily at the end of the workshop.
Report Review
In more depth, each person will go through their report, or one of ours, to help you to clarify its essential purpose and audience.
Unique Style
This is a simple, practical exercise designed to pinpoint strengths of your 'natural' style. It helps everyone to acknowledge where their current strengths are, as well as potentially where those qualities could trip things up.
Best Laid Plans
We look at all the things which can get in the way or scupper the best efforts of even the most careful and conscientious report writer. Each person will also identify what they can do to ensure that their report has the best chance of achieving its ultimate purpose.
Getting Started
Here we will explore different ways examine to help you to plan writing your report and to get started. This may include mind mapping, fish boning, tape recorders, questions and answers, lists - whatever works for you.
Report Structure
Whether we explore practically how your existing structure fits together or share our plan, everyone gets chance to see the logic of how it all pieces together.

Either, there will be an opportunity for you to demystify existing in-house expectations, or to reflect upon the logic of our generic template where appropriate.
Finessing your Style
This is an exercise in the writing or redrafting of an executive summary (of your own or our sample report if needs be)

Here we will be working again at your Style looking at:

De-waffling techniques
How to write clearly and concisely
What works about their natural style

Cutting to the Bone
This practical exercise works by taking the paragraphs you wrote first thing and slashing them in half by word count.

This always identifies style/waffle glitches and gives you a simple method for practising brevity.
Getting the Tone Right
We play The Litmus Test, an accessible way of helping writers to achieve the appropriate tone.
Our aim here will be to highlight how shades of tone, from gushing warmth to cold jargon impact upon readers.

We will look at how easy it is to identify tone. We will play with the idea that very small, subtle changes can shift the feel of our communications.
Finessing the Finished Article
We ask what else needs to happen to ensure that you are carried aloft after submitting your next report (or at least, thanked for doing a great professional job).
Independent Editing
We share all the ways that everyone can be their own best editor. Easy memorable ways to continue to safeguard your professional reputation.
Reporting Back
Each delegate will write up and verbally deliver a short report that states specifically how they intend using the material from the day.

They will include:

What works?
What you need to practice
What type of follow-up would help you to keep up your report-writing momentum?

The day will include plenty of practical exercises including reading one another's reports, feedback exercises, re-writing gobbledegook, on-the-spot writing exercises for identifying personal style. Everything our delegates on the day need to add to their writing toolkits.
It Doesn’t End Here
After our workshops delegates often want to know even more! We offer lots of exciting stuff.

Everyone gets to take away a USB stick with all the handouts from the day (hard copies if they prefer!) and will have free access to this comprehensive website library. Everything you need from reminders of our best practical hints and tips, to helpful handouts and thought provoking documents.
What you'll get from our Effective Professional Report Writing Course
Our Effective Professional Report Writing Course will support you to produce professional reports which are:
Consistent with the 'one type' of report you require
Brief, clear, concise and effective
Easy to read, understand and act upon
We promise not to leave you feeling inadequate and foolish, rather that you have lots of practical future options to try and the inspiration and confidence to have a go.