CHALLENGES
Batson-Cook, a commercial construction company based in Atlanta, wanted to improve how its engineers and project teams write emails. Email is how the work moves. Teams write to owners and architects about specs, changes, and plans, and they follow up with each other after internal discussions.
Most participants were engineers, and their emails could come across as "cold and bold." Messages also needed greater specificity and accuracy and to be tailored to each reader. Too often, conclusions were unclear and did not prompt the reader to act.
SOLUTIONS
Batson-Cook chose a customized version of our Business Email Writing Course, delivered as two condensed live virtual sessions of two hours each. The training focused entirely on email, both external and internal.
Participants learned to put the bottom line on top, plan each email around the reader, and write specific, accurate content. They deconstructed sample emails together and practiced shifting their tone from cold and blunt to clear and professional. They also learned to close each email with a clear request that gets action.
After the training, Batson-Cook received a resource site and the Mentoring Employee Writing Guide, so managers could reinforce the skills in everyday feedback.
Outcomes
Email skills rose across the group
Before training, 33% of evaluated participants rated themselves as beginners at email writing. After training, none did. The share who rated their email writing as a major skill more than doubled, from 22% to 56%.
Participants want the whole company trained
Every participant rated the training 4 or 5 out of 5 when asked to recommend it to a colleague. One participant said they would advocate for company-wide training.
21% less writing time
Participants expect to save an average of 21% of their writing time. One in three expects to save 30%.