Write for Success| Active Voice

The other day I was drafting an email for my team members. It was regarding some work issue which needed to be addressed and sorted (I wonder sometimes how come every task is urgent & important in the corporate world, oh come on we have only 8.5 hrs of working time).. While writing this mail my memory suddenly went back in history...I was transported back to my school days.

Why? What happened?

I remembered how all of us rushed to complete our homework, as directed by our class teacher, and become her favourite. This attitude continues till today when all that we are actually trying to do is to seek brownie points from our superiors.

The point I am making here is about how we draft our emails. Do we ever consider what effect those emails could have on the reader?

We write a number of emails on a daily basis. But do we give thought into creating these mails which are design for success and not just random routine mails. Funnily, even at school, we are taught to hold a pencil but not much emphasis is put on framing any correspondence which will create a positive impact!

My question today is, have we been taught to write for success?

Let me explain. Have a look around our typical mark-based society! In a environ such as we have today, it is only if you score 99.99% that you are deemed to succeed in life, then perhaps clear CAT after which you can get into those sterling IIM institutes to get a placement in the top companies. If you are not a part of that universe you are not a winner!

Right? No, wrong!

This is indicative of a sad society of ‘IIM Haves and Haves-Not’. Either you are on this side of the table seemingly struggling or on the shining side where you have all the money and heart-attacks in the world.

But this is a wrong picture. There are millions of stories that tell us how the so-called back-benchers have been a forerunner in our society just like our revered ex- President the late Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam. He was a backbencher at school who won it all in life. He wrote many books that had a huge influence on me. “Thoughts for Change” and “You are Born to Blossom” are few of my favourites.

Let me point out that our school system does not train us to write for success. All this mark-based hoardings and adverts of coaching classes simply stoke the fire by creating robots for a more competitive environment.

Competition is good as long as it is healthy. In today’s Whatsapp world this kind of a race is leading to an undesirable, unhealthy and a selfish ecosystem.

It is fine. We can’t change the educational system but we can hope for better times.

I say, we can definitely change what is in our control. And change it now.

What then marks the ordinary from the extraordinary? It is the difference in writing. They write for success; they create an active voice, a positive powerful expression to motivate.

Let’s explore exactly what it means:

We might probably write 100 emails in the day out of which 50% are responding to the operation queries, and balance 50% delegating, pulling up someone, or wooing your seniors.

If you want to test my thesis, pick up any of your emails or messages and judge for yourself if they have been written for success with an active voice or are they simply a word scramble?

Think about it. When you start writing for success, at least once a day, you will inspire the reader thus releasing all ‘happiness chemicals’ in the brain. You can then proudly proclaim that as you wrote for success it was a successful day. When you inspire another person, you will too get inspired.

How do we start writing for success and make our voice active?

Here is the great Greek philosopher’s thinking. The great thinker Aristotle introduced an interesting way of dealing with a fellow human. He called it Logos ~ Ethos ~ Pathos. It only means that if you want a logical argument, build an emotional connection first.

Deep down all of us are creatures of emotions and possess strong feelings. Yet we keep forgetting that those feelings are the very essence of life. This holds true for ourselves as well as for others.

Therefore, from today, before you begin drafting any text message/ Whatsapp/email introduce this concept.

Let your expression be ‘Active and not passive’.

When you implement this idea in your writing it will create a sense of confidence among your team members, within your social circle, and within your dear ones.

Taking Charge

Start taking charge of yourself and train mind to write for success. This effectively means that you shift from your complacent lazy attitude and take your mind to the next level of thinking.

Keep it factual

Many times, to explain our point, we have to draw parallels or give examples. We tend to off a tangent and forget the real reason for the message. Try and stick to the point. Be more authentic. It is tough but it works.

Being inclusive

When we begin to progress in life we become exclusive. We forget that success comes when you shift from being exclusive to being inclusive, by welcoming everyone in your circle of positivity. This type of writing is a true sign of leadership.

Just like the old saying goes “Apple a day keeps the doctor away”, here is my twist to it:

Write success for a day; keep failure away...

Do you agree?

Ladies and gentlemen! Write for success – bring alive your active voice. I am sure you will want to start writing success. Begin now and share your success with us.

Stay Inspired