CHALLENGES
Medline, a global manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies, wanted to offer business writing training that any employee could join, regardless of role or department. Participants ranged from technical specialists who write SOPs to administrative staff, junior employees, and mid-level managers.
Common challenges cut across every group.
Writers struggled to choose the right details for multiple readers, and their content focused on what they wanted to say rather than on what readers needed. Technical employees found tone difficult, and some writers had recurring tonal issues that undermined their credibility.
SOLUTIONS
After a successful pilot in spring 2023, Medline launched an open enrollment program built on our Effective Business Writing Course. Each group of up to 18 employees completed two live virtual sessions of three and a half hours.
Participants applied the six-step business writing process to their own work. They mapped content to different readers, deconstructed and planned emails together, tiered information in reports, and practiced tone in breakout rooms. After each session, participants received job aids, including the Reader Focus Sheet, Editing Checklist, and Grammar Correction Guide.
Every participant could also submit a writing exercise for detailed, individual feedback and a personal grammar review from a second instructor.
Outcomes
A program employees return to year after year
Medline ran 13 groups between 2023 and 2025, with up to 18 employees in each. The program grew from a pilot to six sessions a year.
Writing skills rose sharply
Before training, 23% of evaluated participants rated their business writing as major skill or expert. After training, 85% did.
25% less writing time
Participants expect to save an average of 25% of their writing time. More than half expect to save 30% or more.