Are you communicating... or just writing?

I was talking to a prospective client this week about the art and science of good writing. He shared a concern that I hear all the time: my people can't write. According to the National Commission on Writing for America's Families, Schools and Colleges, he's not alone.

The Commission estimates that deficiencies in employee writing skills costs American corporations as much as $3.1 billion a year.

But I'd add that the problem is larger. There is a difference between being able to write and communicating through effective writing. Stringing a bunch of words together in a reasonably clear and logical fashion-- sure, that's writing. Talking to your audience and expressing an authentic vision, idea, message, personality-- that's what communicating is all about.

Pam Slim over at the Escape From Cubicle Nation blog offered an insightful post this week, one that I think captures the difference. Plus, she offers some excellent advice for moving your writing and presenting from ho-hum to authentic and effective.