improving written and oral communication skills (2020)
TRANSCRIPT
26/10/2020
1
Improving written and oral
communication skills (2020)
23rd October 2020
Before viewing this webinar, please visit www.lexiswebinars.co.uk/test-your-system to ensure that your network and PC are configured correctly.
Tip: Press F11 on your keyboard to enlarge the webinar player.
LexisNexis® Confidential 2
The law as stated during this webinar is
up to date as of 21st October 2020
Improving written and oral
communication skills (2020)
1
2
26/10/2020
2
LexisNexis® Confidential 3
Client Services Director
Stratton Craig
Nina Whittaker
Claire Wilson
Head of Copy and Strategy
Stratton Craig
LexisNexis® Confidential 4
Agenda
Written communications
1. Why it matters
2. Tips to tailor your writing
3. Bringing it together
Oral communications
1. Why it matters
2. Tips to tailor your presentation style
3. Bringing it together
3
4
26/10/2020
3
LexisNexis® Confidential 5
Written communications
LexisNexis® Confidential 6
The curse of knowledge
5
6
26/10/2020
4
LexisNexis® Confidential 7
Keep it simple
“If you can't explain
it simply, you don't
understand it well
enough.”
- Albert Einstein
LexisNexis® Confidential 8
Dear Doris and Bertie…
“Write with a specific
person in mind.”
- Warren Buffett
7
8
26/10/2020
5
LexisNexis® Confidential 9
The power of clarity
Understanding
Trust
Persuasion
LexisNexis® Confidential 10
How to write with clarity - A helpful checklist
• How would I explain this to a smart person I know,
who's not an expert in this field?
• How do I start with what my readers don't yet know, rather
than what I know?
• Where are the points of greatest complexity, so that I can
slow down the pace of information?
• Have I used shorter words, sentences and paragraphs at
those critical points?
• Which are the effective numbers? Which are unnecessary
and can be avoided?
• Is there data that can be better represented in an image,
infographic or list?
• Where is the jargon? Which terms can be avoided? Which
must be 'translated'?
• Am I certain I have found the one key piece of info I want to
impart? Do all elements of the document support it?
• Can an analogy help me to take an unfamiliar concept and
make it familiar?
https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2020/20-questions-toward-achieving-civic-clarity-in-your-writing/
9
10
26/10/2020
6
LexisNexis® Confidential 11
Ask yourself
Is my writing so clear that a reader could pass along the most important information to another person?
LexisNexis® Confidential 12
A 5-minute planning tool
KNOW
FEEL
DO
11
12
26/10/2020
7
LexisNexis® Confidential 13
Let's practice
There is a change to an important process at
your firm.
You have been asked to notify staff, explain the
new process and ask for their cooperation.
LexisNexis® Confidential 14
Let's practice
KNOW
FEEL
DO
13
14
26/10/2020
8
LexisNexis® Confidential 15
Striking the right tone
A reminder that parents are required
to supervise their children at all times
when attending the Christmas Fair.
Remember, the teachers will be
off-duty, so you’ll need to keep an
eye on your children at the Fair.
LexisNexis® Confidential 16
Striking the right tone
Please ensure you familiarise yourself
with the new procedure and follow it
strictly at all times
Take some time to learn the new
procedure, because we’ll all need
to follow it closely.
15
16
26/10/2020
9
LexisNexis® Confidential 17
Bringing it together
• Go jargon free
• Respect your
audience’s
intelligence
• Write for clarity
• Plan for impact
(with our planning
tool)
• Consider your
tone
LexisNexis® Confidential 18
Oral communications
17
18
26/10/2020
10
LexisNexis® Confidential 19
Oral communication
“The single biggest
problem in
communications is the
illusion that it has
taken place.”
- George Bernard Shaw
LexisNexis® Confidential 20
It's not what you say, it's how you say it
55% - Non-verbal
38% - Your voice
7% - Content
19
20
26/10/2020
11
LexisNexis® Confidential 21
Improving non-verbal communication
Eyes Face Space
LexisNexis® Confidential 22
Think about your voice
Take it slow Record yourself Pause for effect
21
22
26/10/2020
12
LexisNexis® Confidential 23
Navigating data
⁄ 2.5 quintillion bytes
of data are produced
by humans every day
⁄ 95 million photos
and videos are
shared every day on
⁄ Every day 306.4
billion emails are
sent
LexisNexis® Confidential 24
Some tools to help
/ Data visualisation / Analogies
23
24
26/10/2020
13
LexisNexis® Confidential 25
Communication styles
• Likes emotional language, wants to know what people are ‘really’ thinking.
• Likes process, detail, timelines. Step-by-step.
• Likes the big picture, not bogged down in detail, cuts to the chase.
• Likes hard data, real numbers, persuaded by facts and information.
Analytical Intuitive
PersonalFunctional
LexisNexis® Confidential 26
Bringing it together
• Remember the
non-verbal
• Use your voice
effectively
• Translate the data
for impact
• Consider different
communication
styles
25
26
26/10/2020
14
LexisNexis® Confidential 27
About Stratton Craig – Written Communications
30 years wiseWritten communication
specialistsBristol & London
Annual reports
to social mediaAll sectors
Agile, responsive,
flexible
You’ve probably
already seen our work We work globally Long lasting relationships
LexisNexis® Confidential 28
There's no such thing as a typical client
27
28
26/10/2020
15
LexisNexis® Confidential 29
London
2 Sheraton Street
Soho
London W1F 8BH
Bristol
The Penthouse
4th Floor 15 Colston Street
Bristol BS1 5AP
For enquires please contact 0203 301 3300
strattoncraig.com
LexisNexis® Confidential 30
Thank you and reminders
• This webinar is designed to help solicitors meet requirements A2 (Maintain competence and legal knowledge) and A4 (Draw on detailed knowledge/understanding) of the SRA's Statement of solicitor competence. You may also use the quiz, which can be accessed via the "Take a quiz" link on the webinar details page, to reinforce your understanding of the webinar content. You should answer 7 out of 10 questions correctly and will have two attempts at the quiz.
• Please submit feedback via the survey screen.
• This webinar will be archived immediately, and will be available to view on-demand for 24months.
• A transcript of the webinar can be made available on request within 48 hours.
• You can use the training and evaluation record form which is included in the supporting materials for this webinar to log this training activity and how it relates to the continuing competences that the SRA requires from all solicitors.
If you have any queries, please contact us:
+44 (0) 330 161 2401
@LexisUKWebinars
lexisnexis-webinars
29
30
26/10/2020
16
Thank you for attending.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this session.
Bespoke in-house training solutions
• Tailored for your business
• Extensive portfolio of expert presenters
• All areas of legal practice covered
• Location of your choice
Find out more - http://www.lexiswebinars.co.uk/in-house-training
31