Everybody's busy, but they're more likely to stick with your document if you quickly identify how your readers will benefit from your document. Once you've identified your audience in Step 1, you can write a compelling reason for your readers to consume your document. Then, follow that with a high-level overview of your points.

For example, tell your IT staff that the new accounting rule that takes effect in 18 months will change the way that you process fixed-income transactions. The firm's computer systems must accommodate the following changes:

I suggest you list the changes in order of importance or the order in which the reader needs to deal with them.

Creating a road map like this at the top of your document will help you write clearly. Being clear is the second of the three Cs. It will also help your readers to navigate your document, finding the information that's relevant to them.

Once you've figured out your "big picture" structure, use headings and subheadings to communicate the main message of each section. People skim more than they read, so you'll boost their grasp of your topic with informative headings.

Communicating with people who don't understand jargon or technical vocabulary is another challenge you can overcome. Follow these rules:

Sometimes you'll need to write about a topic for audiences at different levels of expertise. In an ideal world, you'd write one document for beginners and another for sophisticates. But there's rarely enough time for that. In a printed document, you can use sidebars that are set off from the main body of your document to satisfy diverse needs. For example, for newbies, you might explain the ABCs of foreign-currency transactions in a sidebar. For sophisticates or readers with a very specific need, you can delve into an obscure technique that's relevant to only a small, yet essential part of your readership.

People absorb information in small blocks. Break long sentences and paragraphs into shorter pieces. Use numbered lists and bullet points where appropriate.

Sometimes the trite expression, "A picture is worth 1,000 words," is true. People may absorb information better in visual forms. When you use charts, graphs, or tables, place your explanatory text close by in your document.

With these methods, you'll take big strides toward being concise, the third of the three Cs. As your mastery of the three Cs improves, your technical communications will achieve your goals more quickly and effectively.