You-attitude in Business Communication

Reminders:

In revising the sentences:

You-attitude does not basically mean using the word YOU

• Check content and organization, too

• Emphasize what the reader wants to know.

All messages should use you-attitude, but the words to achieve it will change depending on the situation.

• In a positive message, focs on what the reader can do.
• Avoid YOU when it criticizes the reader.
• In a job application letter, show how you can help meet the reader's needs, but minimize the YOU.

You-Attitude

5 Ways to Create

You-Attitude:

2. Refer to the reader's request

or order specifically.

1.Talk about the reader,

not about yourself.

Examples:

Lacks you-attitude: I have negotiated an agreement with Apex Rent-a-Car that gives you a discount on rental cars.

You-attitude: As a Sunstrand employee, you can now get a 20% discount when you rent a car from Apex

Examples:

Lacks you-attitude: Your order...

You-attitude(to individual): The desk chair you ordered

You-attitude(to a large store): Your invoice number 783329

3. Don't talk about feelings, except

to congratulate or offer sympathy.

4. In positive situations,

use You more often than I.

Use We when it includes the reader.

Examples:

Lacks you-attitude: We are happy to extend

you a credit line of $5,000.

You-attitude: You can now charge up to $5,000

on your American Express card.

Examples:

Lacks you-attitude: We provide health insurance to all employees.

You-attitude: You receive health insurance as a full-time Procter & Gamble employee.

5. Avoid You in

negative situations

Examples:

Lacks you-attitude: You failed to sign your check.

You-attitude(impersonal): Your check arrived without a signature.

You-attitude(passive): Your check was not signed.

5 Ways to Create

You-Attitude:

Definition:

Objectives:

You-attitude is a style of writing that:

• Looks at things from the reader's point of view.
• Respects the reader's intelligence.
• Protects the reader's ego.
• Emphasizes what the reader wants to know.

1.Talk about the reader not about yourself.

2. Refer to the reader's request or order specifically.

3. Don't talk about feelings, except to congratulate or offer sympathy.

4. In positive situations, use You more often than I. Use We when it includes the reader.

5. Avoid You in negative situations.

• Apply strategies for you-attitude use
• Compare and contrast situations for You use
• Apply strategies for goodwill creation with You-attitude
• Apply strategies for point-of-view adaptation