Affiliate since: 08/06/2012, Power Rank: 227 | Read Ronilo's 408 other Ask SC answers

You are right that communication plays an important role in growing our SFI business. But not everyone can translate what is in their mind into writing. I was not a good writer either but I use simple technique in writing my thoughts.

1. I start by asking what is the question? or what I want to communicate, in other words what is my topic. I Make sure that I understand the topic well. Example your question is about writing well and not about Team. So I will focus my answers on how to write well.

2. I write several keywords that I will use to give clarity on the topic. Example in your question the keywords that I am following are:
a. Understanding the topic.
b. Using Key words.
c. describing the keywords.
d. Practice
You notice that letter a is what I discuss in no. 1, leter b. is what I discuss in no.2, letter c is what I will discuss in no. 3. and letter d is what I will discuss in no. 4.

3. Start describing the keywords that you have written. Describe it in short sentences. Or describe it by numbering like what I am doing. As you combine these sentences it forms a paragraph whic it cohesive and purely talking about the keywords.

4. Practice, practice practice. Our forum is a very good place to practice. then if are already qualified to answer question here at Ask SC, do so. Do a little research as you practice. So that you begin to write sensible content. Knowledge gives you confidence to write.



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You are right that communication plays an important role in growing our SFI business. But not everyone can translate what is in their mind into writing. I was not a good writer either but I use simple technique in writing my thoughts.

1. I start by asking what is the question? or what I want to communicate, in other words what is my topic. I Make sure that I understand the topic well. Example your question is about writing well and not about Team. So I will focus my answers on how to write
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Affiliate since: 12/31/1969, Power Rank: 99999999

How You learn to write well will depend upon Your desire to reach goals, particularly goals that
are oriented toward improving Your SFI and TripleClicks businesses.
Here is one suggestion: Go to Your SFI Affiliate Center page and point to: Power Tools and on the menu that appears click on PSA mailer; then on the PSA mailer page notice a blue square visual
area on the right side of the page. Click on this visual area which says " need some ideas ? ", and
On the next page review the many message suggestions which are there, as there are about
23 or more pages of suggestions available. So, choose a message that seems appropriate to Your teams' development, be sure to read the message and compare its content to what You feel
matches Your purpose for sending it, and do Your own modifications as necessary.
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How You learn to write well will depend upon Your desire to reach goals, particularly goals that
are oriented toward improving Your SFI and TripleClicks businesses.
Here is one suggestion: Go to Your SFI Affiliate Center page and point to: Power Tools and on the menu that appears click on PSA mailer; then on the PSA mailer page notice a blue square visual
area on the right side of the page. Click on this visual area which says " need some ideas ? ", and
On the next
...more

Affiliate since: 07/22/2015, Power Rank: 99999999 | Read Elvira's 12 other Ask SC answers

Hi,Darla!
We do not have to be a great writers to work this job.Sometimes you will say and help much more to your team with just a few sentences then to write them a long letter.Writing is main way of communication here, and the easiest, i think.Just imagine you are talking to them,what would you say?Write that down!You will see it is not that so bad as you think.
Important thing is to write them what they need,give them information they need.And for those motivation and encouraging letters read few Sample Letters,then try to write one on your own,and read it,and again...Until you will be satisfied with that what you wrote!With some invested time i am sure you will make a success,because you have a will for that,this question shows.
Hope this help you,wish you a lot of success!

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Hi,Darla!
We do not have to be a great writers to work this job.Sometimes you will say and help much more to your team with just a few sentences then to write them a long letter.Writing is main way of communication here, and the easiest, i think.Just imagine you are talking to them,what would you say?Write that down!You will see it is not that so bad as you think.
Important thing is to write them what they need,give them information they need.And for those motivation and encouraging letters
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Affiliate since: 04/14/2014, Power Rank: 99999999 | Read Diane's 76 other Ask SC answers

Hi Darla,

Great question, as I think the team communication aspect of SFI worries many new beginners. It did worry me at first, I just had no idea how to send or construct newsletters, or what I was expected to write about.

The best way to learn is to just get started and practise. As soon as you have somebody in your downline, take the first step and head over to your Genealogy and send a TeamMail to say Hi and introduce yourself.

You can learn a lot by reading the communications you receive from SFI and your sponsor/co-sponsor, or from general emails and letters you receive in everyday life.

I think what worries most people about team communication falls into these general areas:

1. Spelling, grammar, punctuation
2. How to construct the letter and develop a template - take letter to mean newsletter, personal email, ecard, whatever you are writing
3. Mind your language
4. Ideas for what to write about

1. Spelling, grammar, punctuation
Write your letter in a good word-processor program, and be sure to use the proofing tools, which will check these for you. You can set the language you want it to use - many may prefer to use US English.
If you are not English-speaking yourself, you can use a translator program first, then copy and paste the result into the word-processor to check it further.
If you have someone around you whom you believe to be more experienced at writing, you could ask them to check it over for you too. You could even use the SFI Forum for this, it´s good to get feedback from people interested and experienced in the program, and your examples will also help others here who may be facing a similar difficulty.

2. How to construct the letter and develop a template - take letter to mean newsletter, personal email, ecard, whatever you are writing
Begin with your title and address.
Your title should give a short indication of what you are going to help with, e.g.
- Easy steps to... e.g. achieve EA
- Want to... e.g. increase your sales/commissions?
- How to... e.g. bid in auctions and win!

Give a friendly address
"Hi/Dear ~FIRSTNAME~¨ - using this code anywhere in the letter will insert the first name of the recipient if you are sending TeamMail or PSA/CSA mailer. This works in the title too, so I usually begin my title with this so the recipient knows it is from someone they know, and not a spam or junk mail, and it feels more familiar.

Begin the body of your letter with a brief description of what you are going to talk about and why.
Then write the main body of your letter.
Set this out clearly in short paragraphs.
Simple sentences and bullet-point lists are easier to read than long blocks of text.

It is a good idea to use the ´Sandwich Method´, particularly if you are giving feedback to your team or any individual. This means to begin with something very positive, such as ¨It´s great that you... (e.g. achieved EA)¨ or ¨I´m pleased to see that you... (e.g. have been logging in and doing your tasks every day)¨.
Then go on to deliver your message, which may be to build and develop further ideas, or suggest easier ways of doing something.
Finish with another positive message, e.g. ¨Keep up the great work. I´m excited to be following your progress¨.

Invite the recipient to email you if they have any further questions or need help.
Sign off with your name, your position at SFI, and email address.

3. Mind your language
It´s important to remember that your team are your equals, even though you may have more experience of the SFI program. You are their mentor, not their employer or boss.
Your team members will only work at the pace they are comfortable with, and will generally respond better to motivational suggestion rather than demanding, so it is better to use phrases like ¨You may wish to consider...,¨ rather than ¨You must...¨
Focus on what is in their best interests in their progress with SFI, not your own. For example, do not insist they set up a Standing Order, but suggest to them why they may wish to consider setting up a SO, what is the benefit for them?

4. Ideas for what to write about
There is never a shortage of topics you can communicate with your team about.
You can discuss:
- Guidance for getting started - think about what you needed to know when you first started
- How to build a team - how to recruit, how to keep them motivated
- Latest news and developments - you don´t need to repeat the SFI Weekly News, as your team should be reading this anyway, but you could remind them to read it and discuss your own thoughts, experiences and tips
- Posts in the forum and topics in Ask SC - if you see a particular item of interest you can discuss this in a newsletter, linking to the item and adding your own experience
- Develop a training series, in a number of weekly instalments perhaps, referencing related SFI Training resources
- If you have a particular success, share this with your team and describe how you achieved it and how they could duplicate it
- If a team member asks you for advice on how to do something, respond to them personally and also share that question and answer with your entire team, as if one person asks it, you can be sure others will benefit from it too

----------

To save time for the future, create a folder on your computer (or online storage like Google Drive) and keep a 'bank' of documents you can use again in the future, adapting them as necessary.

You can find lots of Sample Messages here
https://www.sfimg.com/PopUp/sampleMessages
which you can copy and adapt to your needs.

If your upline sends you a TeamMail that you find helpful, copy and paste this to a document and adapt as necessary.

Keep a spreadsheet or list of helpful Forum and Ask SC posts that you may refer to often - these can also be bookmarked within SFI now.

Written communication is a vital skill to develop if your intention is to run your own online business. There are so many articles on the internet to help you learn. When you think about it, in this digital age, we probably use as much written communication as we do verbal and face-to-face.

Notice what appeals to you when you are browsing the internet:
- What catches your attention?
- What makes you want to read more?
- What puts you off reading (so you don´t make the same mistake)?

It does get easier, and practise makes perfect.

Best wishes!
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Hi Darla,

Great question, as I think the team communication aspect of SFI worries many new beginners. It did worry me at first, I just had no idea how to send or construct newsletters, or what I was expected to write about.

The best way to learn is to just get started and practise. As soon as you have somebody in your downline, take the first step and head over to your Genealogy and send a TeamMail to say Hi and introduce yourself.

You can learn a lot by reading the
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Affiliate since: 07/19/2015, Power Rank: 99999999 | Read Jaqui's 6 other Ask SC answers

The easiest way is .... DUPLICATION ......
The term "duplication" here at SFI doesn't just mean getting your team to duplicate you !!!
It means you too can duplicate.

And with all the "duplicating" methods SFI offers it makes learning to write well so much easier. You don't have to be a good writer but, with duplication you can learn.

You don't have to re-write any rules just follow the tried and tested guidelines set out for us by SFI and when doing so, remember to read ...... and you will learn

For example ......


? Duplicate your sponsor's letter that you received and send that to your Affiliates.
? Try amending it a little. Keep a log of feedback, replies etc. to see what works and what doesn't.
? The best place to keep notes is on your affiliates "Notes" tab on their snapshot ID page.
? Use and read sample message's and letter's that SFI provides for your weekly group mail, welcome letters, E-cards, in-active affiliates, profile page etc.
? The more you read and interact the more you will learn

I hope this helps. I wish you success.

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The easiest way is .... DUPLICATION ......
The term "duplication" here at SFI doesn't just mean getting your team to duplicate you !!!
It means you too can duplicate.

And with all the "duplicating" methods SFI offers it makes learning to write well so much easier. You don't have to be a good writer but, with duplication you can learn.

You don't have to re-write any rules just follow the tried and tested guidelines set out for us by SFI and when
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Affiliate since: 04/02/2014, Power Rank: 99999999 | Read Mary's 22 other Ask SC answers

Thank you for this question.

First I want to address communication. Good communication is 10 percent seeing 10 percent hearing and 80 percent doing or taking action from what is seen and heard through instruction.

So good communication to your team should only be centered on providing the tools that your team can see and hear and then take action with.

For me being direct and to the point makes it easier for instructing others. So I am suggesting that you just keep it simple and re-read your instructions to make sure your information is beneficial and can be acted upon to complete the communication cycle.

When you follow simple guidelines and give simple direct easy to understand instruction that you have written you will have good communication and therefore be a good writer.
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Thank you for this question.

First I want to address communication. Good communication is 10 percent seeing 10 percent hearing and 80 percent doing or taking action from what is seen and heard through instruction.

So good communication to your team should only be centered on providing the tools that your team can see and hear and then take action with.

For me being direct and to the point makes it easier for instructing others. So I am suggesting that you just keep
...more

Affiliate since: 05/28/2014, Power Rank: 99999999 | Read Craig's 4 other Ask SC answers

How about this:
Edible tubers, flayed, fragmented, and subsequently submerged in a seething emollient fluid, thus transmogrified into brittle sticks of a golden amber hue .

or as most of us know them better French Fries (or chips for the Brits)

Hopefully a humeros way of showing that beautiful prose, and a large vocabulary are not always helpful in communication.
Here at SFI we are trying to communicate in a practical sense, It does not need to flow like fine literature. Therefore:

Keep it simple,
Use short sentences.
If you are worried about stringing idea together, just use bullet points.

It helps if you are clear in your thinking and know exactly what it is you are trying to communicate before you start,
Just try.. it gets easier with practise

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How about this:
Edible tubers, flayed, fragmented, and subsequently submerged in a seething emollient fluid, thus transmogrified into brittle sticks of a golden amber hue .

or as most of us know them better French Fries (or chips for the Brits)

Hopefully a humeros way of showing that beautiful prose, and a large vocabulary are not always helpful in communication.
Here at SFI we are trying to communicate in a practical sense, It does not need to flow like fine literature.
...more

Affiliate since: 10/11/2014, Power Rank: 438 | Read R Subbaiah's 34 other Ask SC answers

Hi, Darla!
Your question is very interesting. This is crucial especially in the light of SFI's field operations spread over more than 200 countries almost covering the nook & corner of the Globe.

I agree very much with you when you say communication is significant withTeam members, a2a friends, Forum members Support Wing of SFI, etc.,

Please understand me we are not Writers or poets or Literateurs to have extraordinary skills for expressing in English. Simple workable, idiomatic English is all that is enough for getting on with your important communications without sounding novice.

1. To be a good Communicator (writer as you put it), you have to write, write & write continuously..
As you feel writing continuously is a problem for you, I have a suggestion: Supposing you are trying to write a mail to your Affiliates. Please prepare a draft as far as possible in your own hand and not on computer. It is a tough thing to do in one's own hand when a computer is available. But you have to draft it in your own hand. Once drafting is completed:

1. Please check up for spellings. Pl. do not feel hesitant. If you have a doubt, take help of a good Dictionary (Not elaborate edition but an abridged/concise edition) of good reputation and standing.. If there are spelling mistakes, do not worry.
Pl. See for its meaning, etymology, and noun & verb forms and note down the meaning and remember it. As we grow in our age, memory will be short instead of being sharp. It may be appearing to be tedious and difficult but if you want to improve your communications, though appearing to be circuitous, this is a better method.

2. After doing away with all spelling mistakes, please check up for any grammatical and syntax errors. I will tell you slightly in a detailed manner:
a. Please check up whether number (singular & Plural), & tense are agreeing with the verb form.This is the most important aspect of sentence construction in English. In order to ensure that syntax and Grammar errors are not there, you must...I repeat you must write, correct, rewrite and improve up on your drafting (writing). The next step is easy for you, but warrants incessant repetition.

3. Please take hold of children's English books (1st to 6th standard). The vocabulary, grammar and all are simple, easy to follow understand and imitate. Even the story Books! If interested, you may first follow the story. But during second reading follow how grammar is positioned appropriately. In the third reading, you may try to follow the agreeing of tense, & number with verb/verb form.

Yes! It is painful, long-drawn & tedious. But after repeating this exercise with three or four drafts, things will fall in line. Without your knowledge, you start writing very good, simple, idiomatic English drafts.

4.Once you start drafting good communications, it is a matter of transfer of knowledge, that is you will be able to draft notifications, communications, mails, Messages etc., But you need to take care of subtleties of writing i.e.formalities of communication, courtesies of communication which you will get anywhere.

5. We will learn so many things if we have the will & determination. Kindly try to follow this tedious but untenable method of writing/drafting communications. After coming to SFI, I cultivated the approach of application of logic, Patiently following others till they complete their version & so many things. If we really want to do things, age is no bar.

6. If you are not from English speaking country, Do not worry. We have inter-disciplinary/ Language Dictionaries Say for example Russian to English and English to Russian.

6. This is the method for not too-well-to-do Affiliates. In case you can afford, You have Language learning courses(both direct & distant learning), speaking courses through Audios, Videos and DVDs. Whatever you resort to there is no short-cut for learning and hard work. Hope this will be of help to you





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Hi, Darla!
Your question is very interesting. This is crucial especially in the light of SFI's field operations spread over more than 200 countries almost covering the nook & corner of the Globe.

I agree very much with you when you say communication is significant withTeam members, a2a friends, Forum members Support Wing of SFI, etc.,

Please understand me we are not Writers or poets or Literateurs to have extraordinary skills for expressing in English. Simple
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Affiliate since: 04/24/2014, Power Rank: 99999999 | Read Sameer's 74 other Ask SC answers

Hello Darla

You are right in saying that ‘Good communication with our team is vital in SFI’. Let me clarify one thing here that to communicate with your team you need not to be a famous writer or excellent public speaker.

Have you seen or observed how we chat on Facebook or any other media? Small sentences like what you did today? How many versa points you could score? Did you buy anything from our store tripleclicks.com? Did you have fun by playing any Eager Zebra games? Etc.etc.

Basically, you need to ask them if they have any difficulty in understanding the SFI business and clear their doubts on phone or by giving them appropriate links to read to get their answers themselves.

You need not to have much writing skills. Just write to them as if you are talking to them. Imagine if they are in front of you what would you say/ask? Just write the same thing in simple sentences.

Hope it help you
Have a nice day !!

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Hello Darla

You are right in saying that ‘Good communication with our team is vital in SFI’. Let me clarify one thing here that to communicate with your team you need not to be a famous writer or excellent public speaker.

Have you seen or observed how we chat on Facebook or any other media? Small sentences like what you did today? How many versa points you could score? Did you buy anything from our store tripleclicks.com? Did you have fun by playing any Eager Zebra games?
...more

Affiliate since: 02/06/2015, Power Rank: 99999999 | Read RONY JOSEPH's 6 other Ask SC answers

An important questions which deserves an intelligent answer.

I recommend that a 1 week or 2 week course known as "Report writing - [Structuring & Writing Reports]" should be done at any college nationally or internationally.

This course has been designed specifically for people who are required to write business reports. It concentrates exclusively on the skills you need to make the writing process easier and the resulting document more effective.

What you will learn on this course:

a.) By the end of the course, you will know how to:
Analyse your audience and tailor the content to their specific needs.
Gather data efficiently and select the relevant information for your readers.
Use best practice in structuring your document.
Choose words that support your message and don’t distract your reader.
Assess the best places to use graphics, and choose the right image to support your content.
Edit your draft for maximum impact.

b.) Once you have passed the course and obtain your certificate or diploma in "Report Writing," you will be qualified to do the following:

1. Clarifying your purpose:
The skills needed to write reports.
Why you won’t get anywhere without a clear objective.
How do I set a clear objective?

2. Analysing your audience:
How do you satisfy a mixed readership with multiple requirements?

3. Designing your structure:
Structuring before you start writing – you wouldn’t build without good foundations.
Using mind mapping or Word™ Outline View to sequence and structure your material.
How to structure the beginning, middle and end of your report.
Organising your content – are you trying to persuade, inform, explain or discuss?

4. Selecting your information:
Collecting and evaluating information – how to make it easy for people to help you.
Deciding what information is relevant – the payoff for having a clear objective.
Deciding the level of detail to include is easier when you’ve analysed your audience.

5. Developing your style:
Crafting short, simple sentences to increase readability.
Choosing familiar words that make your meaning clear.
Getting rid of the waffle that bores readers.
Putting action in your verbs for direct, concise writing.
Writing in terms your reader can relate to.
Some pointers on British vs American text.

6. Drafting and laying out your text:
The importance of the right mindset – how to avoid getting sidetracked.
The process – prepare, draft, relax, polish.
How to break up text – headings, bulleted or numbered lists, tables, diagrams, questions and answers, etc.

7. When and how to use graphics:
When to use graphics – pictures, screen shots, diagrams, flow charts, tables, graphs, etc.
The best places for your graphics, in order of preference.

8. Editing and proofing your draft:
A top-down approach to improving your text – see it the way your readers do.
Ensuring that you achieve maximum impact – things to check when editing your draft.
Removing commonly confused words, ‘poppycock’, poor punctuation and grammar.
Getting the most out of the spelling and grammar checkers.
Some common punctuation errors and how to avoid them.

9. Exploiting the tools:
Getting the most out of Word™.
On-line style guides for instant answers to annoying quibbles.
Metadata can be your undoing – what it is and how to hide it.
Handling version control.
Using Word™ templates.
Using titles, section headings and footnotes.

Yes, this is my solution to the above good question.
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An important questions which deserves an intelligent answer.

I recommend that a 1 week or 2 week course known as "Report writing - [Structuring & Writing Reports]" should be done at any college nationally or internationally.

This course has been designed specifically for people who are required to write business reports. It concentrates exclusively on the skills you need to make the writing process easier and the resulting document more effective.

What
...more