How to improve your writing as a Product Manager in 6 easy steps – Issue 4
Everything you have to know about essential business writing for Product Managers
Charlie Knew How to Write
20 years ago - Charlie Ward an Amazon Engineer, wrote a half-page document explaining a new product idea that he had.
Jeff Bezos loved the idea and launched it a year later.
This product now generates $25 Billion per year, a quick delivery service in return for a yearly subscription. It’s Amazon Prime.
Charlie had a great idea and he knew how to explain it in a half-page document.
Business Writing Essentials
Writing great emails, posts and memos is the best investment for your career.
Business writing is different than writing an academic paper or a poem.
In-School: we study Creative Writing. We read Shakespeare.
In University: we study Technical Writing. We read Academic books.
At Work: No one teaches us Business writing.
Business writing is organized for understanding and action.
If you're looking to improve your business writing game, let me point you to the tips that helped me improve my writing skillset.
1:: Use The Hemingway App ✍️
It's like a spellchecker, but for style. It will make your writing bold and clear.
How will it help?
Eliminating words that are too complicated.
Splitting long sentences into two.
Better formatting.
It makes sure that your reader will focus on your message.
Link: hemingwayapp.com
2:: Create A Bullshit Ban List ⛔
Stop talking like a corporate email:
Distinctively actualize cross-platform convergence 😧
Credibly synthesize ubiquitous mindshare 😨
Assertively expedite corporate materials 😱
Trust me, it doesn’t make you look extra smart.
💡 Do this instead:
Is there an easier word that has the same meaning?
Write as if you’re talking with your friends. No need to use “Business” terms.
Example
Link: hbr.org/bizspeak-blacklist
3:: Practice Text Shredding 🔪
Your text should have the least amount of words that can deliver the highest value.
Most Books could get the point across in one chapter. Most chapters could be a blog post. Most blog posts could be a tweet. Ben Hammer - the CEO of Kaggle.
Use a Twitter Simulator Tool
Try posting the same message on Twitter. You will find out that you’ll get rid of 90% of the text, yet deliver the same message. Twitter is your best filter.
I use the Typfully tool. It allows me to practice the constraints of Twitter without actually posting.
Example:
Recently I posted this article: The 5 Step Guide on How to Transition to Product Management in 2022. I first drafted it on Typfully to make sure I only leave words that are useful.
Link: typefully.com
4:: Use Full Stops more than Commas
Excessive usage of commas will make your sentence long and unreadable.
💡 Do this instead:
Use full stops more frequently.
Avoid sentences with a lot of commas.
5:: Put the Meat of The Sentence First 🥩
The hero is the subject. Put it at the beginning of the sentence to make it easier to read.
Do not speak in third person, you are not writing a novel
Do not say “It must be done” instead say “You must do it.”
When you talk in 3rd person it makes it unclear who is responsible for what. A 3rd person's sentence does not identify who is performing the action.
6:: One Paragraph = One Idea 1️⃣
Long paragraphs are scary. Your message could easily be lost in the middle.
Don’t load a single paragraph with multiple ideas. Keep each paragraph focused on just one idea.
Do this instead:
Use short paragraphs that only have one idea.
Use headlines for new ideas.
References
Thought Leaders
These are thought leaders that helped me in writing more clearly.
Hope it helps ✌️
This post was inspired by the PLAIN language project which aims to make writing more clear across the US government.
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