Episode # 36 – Write to Influence!: Col. Carla Bass

Ret. Col. Carla Bass

 

Today's guest is Col. Carla Bass. SAFFIRE LEGAL PC’s founder and principal attorney Teresa McQueen talks with Carla about her book Write to Influence!, why every boss needs a staff that can write effectively and how to banish bureaucratic blather - We love that! Carla also shares with our listeners  some very practical tips for improving your writing skills.   

 

 

Workplace Perspective is a regular podcast series for employers and employees focusing on education, training, and the law to help organizations of all sizes develop and maintain successful employer / employee relationships.

 
"Powerful writing changes lives." - Col. Carla Bass
 

Highlights From This Week's Workplace Perspective:

* According to Carla Bass, "powerful writing is the life blood of an organization."

 

* Word sculpting is a methodology developed by Carla Bass that focuses on strategizing the message and then using specific tools to chip away at the redundant words (the ones that hog space) and the bureaucratic blather to sculpt out a solid hard hitting message. 

 

* Every single writer is constrained by two things: 1) the readers time; and 2) space. The author who leverages time and space best wins!  

 

 

Carla's Write to Influence! Tips

* Don't put the horse before the cart. Identify what is the most important part of your message and raise that to the very top. Outline the journey you're trying to take the reader on. 

 

* If you are trying to extend your influence you have to explain [your principle thoughts] in very concise persuasive language, being cognizant of time and space. 

 

* Strategize and hone your message to make each word count.

 

* Leave out the "Bureaucratic Blather:" 

* Don't use noun, after noun, after noun....
* Don't smother the verb

* Instead of "provide a demonstration" use "demonstrate"
* Instead of "reduce the amount of time" use "expedite"
* Instead of "conduct over-site" use "oversee"
* Instead of "provide contribution" use "contribute"

 

* Don't use words that "hog the space." Instead of using several words to convey one thought - go for the one!

* Instead of "at the present time" try "presently"
* Instead of "those who attend" try "attendees"
* Instead of take you up on" try "accept"
* Instead of "talk about" try "discuss"
* Instead of "prior to that" try "previously"

 

* Avoid redundancy by removing words already inferred in the sentence (e.g., "He was being surreptitiously sneaky" should be "He was being sneaky.")

 

* Avoid useless words such as:. 

* There is / There are
* Provide with
* On a daily basis
* In order to
* Moving forward we will

 

Carla's Tips For Employees

To help employees take control of various situations (Job Interviews, Resumes, Performance Reviews), Carla offers the following tips:

Job Interviews:

* Strategize your message beforehand. Before the interview think about and have ready 3 short messages you want to leave behind with your interviewer. 

Performance Reviews (Where your employer asks for your written input):

* Pretend you are writing about someone else - eliminate the ego.