UChicago Social Sciences on YouTube · Open on YouTube
Analysis memos, decision docs and executive communication · Proficient · Lesson 75 of 99 · 1 h 22 min video, then about 40 min of practice
Writing that creates value for the reader
After this you can write for what a busy reader needs rather than for what you did, and recognise prose that wastes a senior reader's time.
Why it matters
Larry McEnerney's argument is that professional readers do not read to understand you; they read to get something of value, and they stop when they do not. For analysts, value means a changed decision or a resolved uncertainty. Watch the talk, then reread your last analysis write-up and mark every sentence that describes your process rather than what the reader should know or do.
How to use this resource
Larry McEnerney's University of Chicago lecture on writing for value. Recorded in 2014 and aimed at academics, but its core argument about readers applies even more strongly in business.