Give a worked example of Persuasive Business Writing.

Worked example

A consultant proposing that a client divest a non-core unit opens with the recommendation in one sentence, summarizes three reasons (the unit consumes management attention disproportionate to its profit, it is worth more to a strategic acquirer, divestiture would fund a higher-return investment), addresses the obvious counter-arguments, and ends by asking the client to greenlight a structured sale process within thirty days.

Why the example works

Persuasive business writing earns a decision from a reader who is busy, skeptical, and not obligated to agree. The discipline values clarity, structure, and reader-first framing over stylistic flourish. Effective persuasive structure follows a predictable pattern: lead with the recommendation, support with two or three reasons, anticipate the reader's objections, and close with a specific next step. The Minto pyramid principle organizes thinking top-down: the main message is supported by groups of mutually exclusive, collectively exhaustive sub-messages, each itself supported by evidence. Active voice, concrete nouns, short sentences, and specific numbers replace abstractions and corporate hedges.

Where it could go wrong

Burying the recommendation, hedging conclusions, and over-explaining methodology wastes the reader's time and weakens persuasive force. Writing to impress rather than to be understood is the most common failure.

Generalizing the lesson

Test persuasive writing by asking whether a reader who reads only the first paragraph would still understand the recommendation, the reasons, and the requested action.

Source basis: Open Textbook Library: READ MORE