Advice for new corporate writers and editors

For harried but well-intentioned communication managers—and their still-malleable new writers and editors—here are some talking points worth communicating to new employees

Companies offer new employee orientation to brief new hires on the culture and the policies of the organization so they can hit the office carpet running.

But who orients employees in the requirements of their specific job? Their manager, who is a bit biased on the subject—the main message is, “Do what I want done, the way I like it done,”—and in any case usually too busy to offer a thoughtful orientation session.

Here are some talking points for communication managers to deliver to their new writers and editors.

You must do your job. If you were brought in to write the monthly employee publication, you’ve got to get it out monthly, even if I lard your schedule with lots of other things. I won’t be here forever, and if all you ever do is follow my priorities, your job could disappear when I do. Unless and until I tell you the publication is officially canceled, you must get it out on time, every time. Without a bunch of filler pieces, without a bunch of errors.