What's stopping you from learning how to fix your reports?

Finance people know their reports are rubbish.

Too long, too technical, too boring. Hard to read.

Then they go back to their desks and write exactly the same way.

I've been in finance for over 30 years. I've written two textbooks and taught at business schools. I've seen this pattern everywhere.

People complain about bad writing. They agree it matters. But they don't change.

Why not?

Maybe they think good writing is a gift you're born with. Maybe they're too busy. Maybe they don't know where to start.

Here's what I know: writing clearly isn't magic. It's a skill. You can learn it.

When I was a young accountant I wrote dense, bureaucratic reports just like everyone else before me had done. I was copying the style I found in the files and no-one complained. 

I have gone from that to writing textbooks that people actually enjoy reading. I had to learn the principles and practise using them.

The same principles work for board papers, budget reports, business cases and emails.

Short paragraphs. Plain language. Structure that guides the reader.

So here's my question: if you know your documents could be better, what's stopping you from learning how to fix them?

Is it time? Confidence? Not knowing where to begin?

Why not get in touch with me? I can help you.