The Importance of Written Communication

When is the last time you sat down to write a note, a letter, or a blog post? Have you thought about the importance of written communication in your business? Is it commonplace for your funeral directors or team members to handwrite notes to client families or send out holiday cards to clergy members?

For as long as I can remember, my mother used to sit me and my siblings down after holidays and birthday parties to write thank you notes, which is something I still do to this day. I have found that sitting down and gathering my thoughts allows me to really think about the overall message, use appropriate language, and take time to review and edit before hitting “send” or dropping an envelope in the mail.

I was recently asked about the impact written communication has in the end-of-life industry. When posited with this question, I paused for a moment, thought about all of the content I have written, feedback I have received, and came to the conclusion that written communication provides gratitude to the author, recipients, and readers. When sitting down and putting pen to paper, one really has to consider their intentions, messaging, and word choice to ensure their correspondence has the desired effect. All too often, we are rushing to answer the next call, return an email, or are running from task to task. Sitting down to compose one’s thoughts forces us to pause and take a moment and truly think about the recipient, purpose, and effect.

I also believe that a handwritten or typed and signed note further the connections we build with the families we serve. As end-of-life industry professionals, we strive to provide families with comfort and support, and quite often, a little note saying you are there to answer any questions, or that you appreciated speaking with them following the service, goes a long way. So, the next time you are thinking of sending an email and are all too quick to hit the “send” button, consider the impact a handwritten note may have.