Writing Board Papers Course

1-day training, in person or online

Download a PDF of this course description

Colleen Trolove

What’s my approach?

Choosing strategic info, not operational content

Most of the people who write board papers also write for senior leadership teams. Senior leaders need operational information to make good decisions, but it’s different for board members. We start by clarifying the strategic type of information board members need.

Giving board members the best chance to think critically

We want board members to have plenty of brain space available to think critically about the content they’re reading. We don’t want them to waste their precious energy just trying to understand!

I’m a plain-language expert. I help your people understand why impressive, jargon-filled corporate speak is the opposite of what board members need.

Helping your people embrace a plain style

On the workshop, we’ll unpack why we think we have to write in a dense, formal style. Your people will unlearn all those unhelpful rules and know the why and how of writing in a clear, precise style.

How to plan, write, and edit a board paper

With my strong practical focus, I’ll guide your people through constructing a board paper for their own context. They’ll put all the training content into practice by writing their own papers.

Doesn’t sound like fun?

Prepare to be proven wrong. I’m up for the challenge!

What the training covers

Reader-centric tools

  • Focus on the reader for success

  • Why board members need strategic content

  • What’s the difference between strategic and operational content?

Plain language

  • What is plain language, according to the iso standard?

  • Why use plain language? (the benefits)

Unlearning the writing rules

  • Why is it hard to let go of complex language?

  • Which rules are unhelpful and which are helpful?

Plain language approaches

  • Speakable language

  • Sentence length

  • Active voice

  • First person – you and we

Deciding what’s in and what’s out

  • Separating thinking and writing so you can write
    more efficiently

  • Identifying your paper’s goal

  • Prioritising the needs of multiple readers

  • Filtering and ordering content

  • Creating informative, logical headings

Writing time

  • Writing a first draft as if you’re speaking to the most influential reader

  • Answer the board members’ questions as you write

Guided editing

  • Assessing readability using Word’s inbuilt tools

  • Tightening sentences using the plain language
    approaches

The specifics

Who’s it for?

Up to 14 people who write board papers at work

How long?

1 full day at your venue

How much?

All trainings are $8,000 + gst per day plus travel

What format?

In person or online, but not a mix of both

Before the training

You can give me document samples to use in the training (optional)

To bring on the day

  • Laptops

  • Your own documents to work on

Colleen Trolove

Download the full course outlines

Plus the ROI information you need to make a strong business case for this training

Course descriptions

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