| |
I knew when I read the "The
4-way Test" and the motto: "Act with Integrity, Serve with Love, Work
for Peace", that I would feel at home in Rotary. Much of management
consulting and management training is about passing on techniques and
systems. However, over the years, I have come to see my main role as
convincing people that business success arises from applying values
similar to those of Rotary International. |
|
Take
reporting writing, for example ("Oh no!" I hear you cry). By asking
questions about how to serve others – how to help others, the techniques
of effective report writing are revealed naturally.
What
can I do to help my senior colleagues solve the problem that made them
commission this report?
·
Find
out exactly what the problem is (make sure I understand the report-brief
fully).
·
Undertake the research thoroughly.
·
Include
additional information not asked for that might be helpful (references,
names and addresses of contacts).
·
Offer
recommendations if asked for.
How
can I help senior colleagues and others to save time in reading
the report?
·
Include
a title page with a specific title, authors' names, and date. (This
helps people to identify quickly the report they need).
·
Provide
the main points in a summary immediately after the title page (People do
not want to read my reports - they want solutions to problems. A summary
helps them to gain the main facts and recommendations quickly).
·
Give a
table of contents, an introduction and conclusion (This allows quick
reference in case people might want to read further).
How
can I help my senior colleagues to understand easily the main issues?
·
Make
the report easy to read with jargon-free, concise, accurate and clear
expression, and with a layout that includes paragraph numbers,
subheadings, ample margins and a space between paragraphs.
·
Link
one thought to the next - help readers to follow the train of thought.
·
Extract
all supporting material and put it in appendices.
·
Use
diagrams to assist explanation.
·
Give
headings to all tables and diagrams and explain them if necessary.
I am
always amazed at how many "tough ole boys" in some industries don't
believe you when you show them that they will get better results -
better business success - when they serve with love and ask: is it fair
and beneficial to all?
Bill
Robb is a management and education consultant based in Aberdeen,
Scotland. For more information and resources on values education or to
invite Dr Robb to speak at your event go to
www.valueseducation.co.uk. This article was originally
published in the Rotary District 1010 Magazine,
September 16 1996,
page 6.
|
