Writer’s Remorse

Posted on Thursday, September 25, 2008 by Frank Roche

Here’s what I know about doing HR communication: The closer you get to deadline, the more edits people have. It’s what I call Writer’s Remorse. Here’s what else I know: Those last-second edits rarely add anything to the quality of the communication.

Folks, communication isn’t about single words on a page or just one more PowerPoint slide. Great communication is about creating pictures in peoples’ heads. All the rest is clutter.

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User Comments

  1. Ron Ulrici

    Sep 25th, 2008

    Amen, Brother Frank!

    The one most important thing about great leaders is their ability to share their vision (transport that picture from their head to your head). It moves mountains.

  2. John Windsor

    Sep 25th, 2008

    Brilliant.

  3. Frank

    Sep 25th, 2008

    Thanks, John. Sometimes simple is best. It works in soccer…why not with communication?

  4. Frank

    Sep 25th, 2008

    Ron, so true. I keep that in mind with all the communication I create for clients…it's about the picture, not the little words.

  5. Strahan

    Sep 26th, 2008

    Solid.

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  2. [...] Writer’s Remorse — “Here’s what else I know: Those last-second edits rarely add anything to the [...]

  3. [...] KnowHR’s Frank Roche writes about how second edits amount to writer’s remorse and don’t really add anything to communications. I have to disagree. Second edits can be a very valuable tool in cutting out clutter and unnecessary verbage when they are done after letting a document sit for a day or so. There is always room for improvement. [...]