If an important document is written by committee, it can easily become bloated and unfocused. And, it will lack a cohesive voice.
Too many cooks, throwing in too many ingredients, can easily muddle the audience focus and requisite content:
How to Write by Committee:
- Make sure roles are clearly assigned. You need a writer/editor and the sign-off designee:
- Choose your best writer as writer/editor and recipient of all team feedback.
- Choose the team member most familiar with the audience needs and benefits and product as sign-off designee.
- All team members can, and should, provide feedback.
- Start with a group meeting. Identify audience and content. (As taught in Effective Business Writing Techniques.)
- For the first review, solicit feedback, not text editing, from the full team. What information do team members want changed? Make sure they are able to explain why they want that information changed.
- Let the team writer/editor revise the document, based on the team feedback received. To hold clarity and voice, it’s best if multiple team members do not edit text.
- For the second review, have team proofread for typos and errors, as well as message.
- When the editor feels the document is ready, present it to the sign-off designee.
Beware committee bloat. If you have important documents that are shaped by committee, be sure to identify roles and process. You’ll save time and frustration, create documents that reflect your audience’s needs, and present a clear message.
