Please complete the following statement:

“American business runs on ________.”

I can hear your answers now, from the nice to the naughty: technology, water, electricity, hard work, communications, trust, greed…. This year, in these times, many may have suggested one or all of the following: text, FaceTime, Slack, Teams, Zoom, email.

You may think my answer would be #CommunicationsContentConnections.

Business Life and Letters

And, in a way, you would be correct. Business is built on communications, content, connections and relationships. And communications and business relationships are created, conducted and concluded via letter. Still. Didn’t see that coming, did you?

Yet, think about it. To help your thought process, here’s a list of some business letters types, in alphabetical order:

Adjustment Letter                                      Order Letter

Apology Letter                                            Payment Letter

Appreciation Letter                                    Payment Request Letter

Audit Letter                                                 Recommendation Letter

Complaint Letter                                        Reference Letter

Confirmation Letter                                    Referral Letter

Congratulatory Letter                                 Rejection Letter

Cover Letter                                                Resignation Letter

Employee Letter                                         Retirement Letter

Employment Verification Letter                  Sales Letter

Farewell Letter                                            Shareholder Letter

Follow-up Letter                                         Termination Letter

Offer Letter                                                  Thank-you Letter

Welcome Letter

Now, let’s take it a step further, really consider these many types of business letters. They are in circulation around the business world every day. Undoubtedly, in your business experience, you are familiar with these communications.

Letters of Impact

Recall your actions and efforts crafting one or several of these letters–even if you used and customized templates and online distribution and delivery. Did you fully convey or constrain your anger and frustration in your complaint letter? Did you persuasively present yourself, your experience and your fit for your dream job in that cover letter? Were you, well, resigned, resentful or relieved when you put your signature to a resignation letter?

And what was your experience on the receiving end? Do you recall, generally or precisely, what was said, how it was said, how you felt when you read the offer letter for that first job in your chosen profession? Did you wonder if that glowing recommendation letter was really, truly about you? Have you been shocked by a tersely worded termination letter?

Whether consumed or created on-screen or on paper, letters are powerful. They can serve as a record and source of truth. They can convey decisions, provide official documentation, and deliver a seal of authority. They can be treasured or trashed.

The Time Is Write

So, here’s your opportunity. National Letter Writing Day is Monday, December 7. Put the laptop aside. Block out some time. Get some good paper. Use one of your prized pens, say a fountain pen. Write a letter of substance and style to a colleague at work. Remind your recipient, maybe even yourself, what you’ve learned from each other, why they are important in your life, how essential your relationship has been, is and will continue to be.

Use communications, the content of a simple, powerful letter, to make and reaffirm your connections, in business, in life.

#CommunicationsContentConnections
#Communications
#Connections
#NationalLetterWritingDay