You’re normally an easy-going manager who gives your employees a lot of leeway in using their own communication styles. However, the weekly staff meeting this morning pushed you over the edge. People were interrupting one another, asking questions that already been answered, sending text messages during presentations, and exhibiting just about every other poor listening habit imaginable.

Write a memo to the staff. Emphasize the importance of effective listening skills and list at least five steps your employees can take to become better listeners.

Please send some time first figuring out the purpose for writing and be sure to include that in the first paragraph while incorporating the ‘you’ attitude. Then put the details in the body paragraph, beginning with a comprehensive topic sentence. Then in the conclusion, end with specific deadlines and goodwill. (Remember there must be three paragraphs minimum.)

As you write, remember to include the following:

the ‘you’ attitude,

positive language,

conciseness,

courtesy,

active vs passive,

clarity,

sentence variation etc.