Report Writing

Writing more effective reports more efficiently

Whether in the form of A4 documents, slide decks or emails, reports always have a clear objective and address an audience that expects concise and relevant answers to key questions.

  • Advisory reports (e.g. Should the bank finance infrastructure project X? What does it involve? What are the benefits and risks?)
  • Diplomatic cables (e.g. Which recent development in country X requires further attention and what are the implications for Dutch foreign policy?)
  • Deliverables / Progress reports (e.g. Which objectives were achieved in period Y? Which objectives were not achieved and for what reasons?)
  • Emails (e.g. What do you need to know about X? Why is additional input needed on Y? What is the deadline for Z? What will be discussed in the next committee meeting?)
  • Grant applications (e.g. How will project X contribute to the innovation goal of funding agency Y?)
  • Proposals / Pitches (e.g. Why should company X hire us to provide Y?)

The answers to the readers’ main questions will naturally raise further questions that also need to be addressed. Effective reports offer their readers effortless access to clear and concise answers to all their questions. There’s a proven way to write them more efficiently.

Participants in my workshops learn to focus not only on the objectives of the report but also on their readers and the questions they will want to see answered. They learn to formulate clear and concise answers to each of those questions. They learn to structure their argumentation – the flow of information – more logically. This helps them eliminate irrelevant information and highlights the main takeaways for the readers. Most importantly, participants learn to do all of this before they start writing.

Not only will their reports be more reader-friendly and persuasive; they will also be easier to write. This is because the writer will already know exactly what to say and where to say it. In short, my workshops help people write more effective reports in less time and with less agony.