In two previous articles, I’ve played a one-man Olympic judge and awarded gold and silver medals to competing writing formats.
The gold–or number 1 spot–went to the “how-to” story format. The silver–or second-place–winner was the Q&A. My choice for the bronze medal is (drum roll, please):
The inquiring photographer.
It’s kind of a Q&A and it therefore shares many of its benefits. The difference is there’s only one question asked, followed by the answers of several individuals along with their photos.
Why I like it: In addition to its simplicity, you can select your responders to demonstrate your organization’s diversity (gender, ethnicity, organization level, type of job and geographic location).
Questions can range from broad to narrow business subjects to non-business humorous. Some top-of-the-head examples:
o What new thing did you learn at (a recent) training program?
o Why did you sign up for first aid training?
o Where do you volunteer your time (to charity) and why?
o What was the funniest April Fool’s scam pulled on you?
o What New Year’s resolution are you determined to keep this year?
o How do you personally exceed our customers’ delight-related expectations? (I’m kidding!)
As you can see, several of these can be timed to specific times of the year. Others can run at any time.
Depending on how narrow or broad your question is, your answers can run from a couple of sentences to several paragraphs. Just be sure the writing is conversational. People don’t talk in the language of inter-office memos. That means no jargon, management-speak or any other kind of blather.
One more, very important, thing: Make sure the photos show happy people.
Copyright (c) 2007 by Bob Lory
