No More Word Vomit! Writing Strategies for Work & Beyond with High Value Writing Founder, Erin Lebacqz

00:00.76

Debra Coleman

All right. Well, here we are back with another episode on Have a Seat, Conversations with Women in the Workplace. I am kind of, this is kind of for a show more for me than you, I have to admit, because I love writing.

 

00:14.07

Erin Lebacqz

Thank you.

 

00:16.18

Debra Coleman

i i am not any I'm not a writer, but when I fall into the spectrum of, oh my gosh, does that sound okay? I'm Is that grammatically correct? But like i so I'm a little bit of a stress case when it comes to writing. So I am so excited to have Erin LeBax here to join us. the She's an author herself, head of content of high value writing. She is going to school us on the beautiful art of writing and the importance of writing in our professional lives. So thank you, Erin, for joining me today.

 

00:43.87

Erin Lebacqz

Thank you, Deborah. I'm happy to be here. And I feel you on the writing stress. That's really common. And we can certainly talk about some ways to de-stress the whole situation a little bit too.

 

00:55.25

Debra Coleman

Oh, thank you. You are speaking my language. Absolutely.

 

00:57.98

Erin Lebacqz

to

 

00:58.93

Debra Coleman

like i mean, as I was, you know, researching you and reading up on all of all things, high value writing that has to offer it. I was like a bobblehead, like, yep, yep, that's me. Yep. That's what I struggle with.

 

01:09.25

Debra Coleman

Yep. That she's no.

 

01:09.61

Erin Lebacqz

yeah

 

01:10.11

Debra Coleman

Yep. I just felt seen as they say, I felt so seen.

 

01:14.38

Erin Lebacqz

Good, right. Well, I think most of us struggle with with worries about our writing, but it's kind of something we keep in our own secret minds a lot, and we don't bring that stressed out. But there are things we can do when we talk about it, so it's great.

 

01:27.43

Debra Coleman

Absolutely. Yes. ah So yeah, totally agree with you on that. Well, that's a beautiful segue actually into getting our conversation started. So for those of us that are like, really writing, is it that serious?

 

01:38.55

Debra Coleman

Yes, friends, it is, um especially in your professional life. So as, as i'm I'm just going to sort of make me like hypothetically, you know, speak for some of my listeners who might be listening, we all fire off emails and reports.

 

01:51.10

Debra Coleman

daily, right? Without thinking too much about it. Some of us, you know, I'm not one of those, but some of us do. um So talk to us, Erin, about why is it so important to be more intentional with our writing and especially maybe in our professional setting? Where where are we going with all of this?

 

02:07.11

Erin Lebacqz

Yeah, great question, because I do think we wonder, you know, why the intentionality, why the strategy? Aren't I just putting some words on a page? But the fact is that our writing can impact everything else surrounding the topic, including, I think, most importantly, our relationships with the people who read our messages or even people we we reference in our messages.

 

02:28.28

Erin Lebacqz

I think most of us have experienced receiving a text whether it's from a friend or a colleague, you can immediately feel excited from a text you received. You've probably also received a text where you immediately felt annoyed or dreadful.

 

02:37.07

Debra Coleman

Hmm.

 

02:41.58

Debra Coleman

just

 

02:41.88

Erin Lebacqz

And that's the impact that writing can have on the reader's emotion. And then that trickles into our relationships where we can actually develop think great things like trust and respect through intentional writing. And then when we meet in person with someone we've written to before, oh, we already trust each other. How nice.

 

03:00.61

Erin Lebacqz

Or, you know, when we don't pay attention, we can accidentally, of course, we don't do it on purpose, but we could leave our words in such a way that the reader misinterpreted. They could get hurt, feel disrespected. it could impact our relationship.

 

03:16.33

Debra Coleman

So true. God, good points.

 

03:18.76

Erin Lebacqz

Yeah, yeah. And it's also, of course, you know, i work with a lot of small business owners or people who are out there doing a side hustle. And we know that our language also represents us when we're not there.

 

03:31.36

Debra Coleman

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

 

03:31.69

Erin Lebacqz

And so even if it's something like posting on socials about a new service that you have or following up with a possible client on an email, we're also kind of showing, hey, who are we through our writing? Because we all probably know you can read someone's email and kind of get an image of what that person might be like.

 

03:50.94

Erin Lebacqz

I've actually had it where I felt like someone was was rude from what they had written. And then I met them and they weren't rude at all. It was just me misunderstanding the words. So it's so crucial that we get strategic and intentional when we're connecting with people in that way.

 

04:06.78

Debra Coleman

Oh, I love that. One more time for those in the back who might not have heard. That is just so important. i havet I have experienced the same exact thing. And i think as Aaron and I chatted a bit before I hit the record button, um I am an administrative support professional. And in many ways, we speak on behalf of others.

 

04:25.97

Debra Coleman

um

 

04:26.10

Erin Lebacqz

right

 

04:26.44

Debra Coleman

Yes, the email came from Debra, but I am Aaron's assistant. And so I am essentially acting on Aaron's behalf. um

 

04:34.12

Erin Lebacqz

That's a great point.

 

04:34.45

Debra Coleman

And so, right?

 

04:35.71

Erin Lebacqz

Wow. Yeah, you're bringing in a whole nother layer of people because um lately I've been talking to people about writing is actually interpersonal, just like speaking.

 

04:40.09

Debra Coleman

Yes.

 

04:44.72

Debra Coleman

yes

 

04:45.58

Erin Lebacqz

And now with that layer, it's interpersonal even for the person you're representing.

 

04:50.93

Debra Coleman

Exactly. Yes. Or the organization you're representing or, you know, because yes, the email came from Deb, but guess what? Well, nope, because high value writing told me blah, blah, blah, blah.

 

05:02.25

Debra Coleman

It wasn't Deborah told me it was, you know, and so yeah, it does matter.

 

05:04.13

Erin Lebacqz

Exactly. Right?

 

05:06.38

Debra Coleman

It really does matter, especially in a professional setting is because as as you said too, that's the first maybe impression someone has of you and your organization or maybe your leadership team.

 

05:12.91

Erin Lebacqz

Okay.

 

05:16.10

Debra Coleman

So it really, really can ah So important. See, this is why I have Aaron to help spread this message, ah because I am i am a little bit of a nerd bird when I get an email from someone because that's how I primarily communicate about the day.

 

05:21.68

Erin Lebacqz

right its

 

05:28.86

Debra Coleman

And it isn't like and like you said, oh, it kind of came off brusque or wasn't very clear or wasn't structured in a way that was that had clarity. I'm like, oh my God. Like, it just like nails on a chalkboard for me because I do.

 

05:42.81

Debra Coleman

um That's how much value ah I personally put into it.

 

05:43.19

Erin Lebacqz

Yeah.

 

05:45.13

Debra Coleman

But what are some of the most common whiting mistakes you've seen professionals make?

 

05:51.31

Erin Lebacqz

I think I'll share one that's kind of about information sharing and one that's about relationships. um On an information sharing, i think these days, most of us provide more detail than other people want.

 

05:58.38

Debra Coleman

Hmm.

 

06:04.91

Erin Lebacqz

but for the I know that that's true for me. If I write an email, maybe 10 years ago when I would edit, I would find myself adding things. These days when I edit my emails, I find myself deleting things because we know people will respond to a message that's shorter much more easily than a longer one, and we don't want to dilute the message.

 

06:17.20

Debra Coleman

wow

 

06:25.75

Erin Lebacqz

So I think it's helpful to think to ourselves, you know, we know ourselves when you think about your communication Do you tend to be an over-informer or an under-informer and then think about, well, what does my reader probably want? I might have to kind of meet in the middle a little more with this reader because I've been someone who explains the whole big picture in an email because that's what I personally like.

 

06:50.52

Erin Lebacqz

But then I'll think about it and go, oh, but this reader, they're a bottom line person. They don't want all this.

 

06:55.54

Debra Coleman

Hmm. Hmm. Hmm.

 

06:55.83

Erin Lebacqz

Only I thought this was interesting. So we have to really kind of hold ourselves back with the amount of content and detail because we can overwhelm people. um And then on an interpersonal side, I'll add another one is just this accidental, it's really not on purpose, but so many people tell me that they felt disrespected or condescended to in an email.

 

07:18.06

Erin Lebacqz

And I believe the the writer almost never intends that, but often the guilty word is the word you And being careful with the way we were use the word you, especially if there's a negative where it's not like, hey, why didn't you add this to the appendix?

 

07:36.14

Erin Lebacqz

We could just say, please add this to the appendix of the report.

 

07:39.55

Debra Coleman

Mm-hmm.

 

07:39.70

Erin Lebacqz

But we don't have to use that you. So, right, we don't want to overwhelm our readers, but we also don't want to accidentally make them feel pigeonholed or accused or categorized in some way either, disempowered.

 

07:53.21

Debra Coleman

Disempowered. Oh, I love that. Yes. Yes. I i agree. there When I do reread an email, and I am guilty of doing that like five times, um that that's the kind of thing that I find that and lately I'm looking for are is that am I'm making this personal instead of, I will send out the agenda later today.

 

08:02.70

Erin Lebacqz

Yeah.

 

08:13.00

Debra Coleman

Nope. Scratch that. The agenda will be sent out later today. Like I don't want to take ownership where maybe I shouldn't kind of thing. um for fear of coming off, as you said, just like, I don't want to feel like I'm shaking my finger someone's face, like, I said, you know, that kind of thing.

 

08:26.67

Erin Lebacqz

yeah

 

08:26.98

Debra Coleman

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Ooh.

 

08:28.60

Erin Lebacqz

Yeah, and that we can get that vibe accidentally by the word you, especially if it's paired with a negative like, Aaron, you didn't provide X, Y and Z.

 

08:33.24

Debra Coleman

o

 

08:39.32

Erin Lebacqz

How about you know, hey, Aaron, once you provide X, Y and Z, we can do blah, blah, blah. Like keep it productive phrasing, focus on what can be done, focus on moving forward.

 

08:46.74

Debra Coleman

but

 

08:50.75

Erin Lebacqz

And then kind of with that tied back with the detail overwhelm I was talking about, it's really come to my attention lately that most people see writing and reading as an issue of time now, where kind of like when you were saying that you get a cringy feeling if someone sent you a really disorganized email.

 

08:50.94

Debra Coleman

I will like that.

 

09:07.81

Erin Lebacqz

It's not, I would say, in addition to that feeling resulting from you valuing writing, I think it's also because then we're getting a message, oh, this person didn't respect my time.

 

09:18.34

Debra Coleman

yeah

 

09:18.35

Erin Lebacqz

They know that it's going to take me 10 minutes to figure this thing out and know what I need to do They could have just given me a nice little list of bullets and I could have been on my way. We really have to show, hey I respect your time. That's why I'm creating a message that's easy for you to use.

 

09:34.27

Debra Coleman

Yes, yes, i absolutely. And I love that productive phrasing. That really, I wrote that down. i'm like, that's good.

 

09:42.15

Erin Lebacqz

Yeah.

 

09:42.91

Debra Coleman

um i might put that on a sticky on my monitor, just saying. um But yes, and especially the length and and as you said, keeping it concise, um and not to, you know, ah stereotype anyone, but I find that when I am addressing like like our male counterparts or our male allies,

 

10:00.16

Erin Lebacqz

so

 

10:01.02

Debra Coleman

I do tend to like bottom line it in emails like this, this, this done, you know, whereas when I'm writing to a fellow like woman, um I do tend not to go longer, really, but maybe a little bit like more expand, like expand, like this is why.

 

10:01.08

Erin Lebacqz

but

 

10:03.81

Erin Lebacqz

man Yes.

 

10:15.93

Debra Coleman

And then this is how, you know i mean? Kind of thing. Cause I'm, maybe I'm projecting, like you said, maybe that's how I want to receive it, but that doesn't mean she that, or they do.

 

10:18.87

Erin Lebacqz

Yes.

 

10:23.93

Debra Coleman

Right. So that was a good point you made there. Yeah.

 

10:26.21

Erin Lebacqz

Well, but I love that gender aspect that you brought in because I recently had a ah woman who was someone I'm going to partner with as a client. And she literally said to me, you know what, I love all the details.

 

10:38.34

Erin Lebacqz

So when you email me, I'm totally happy with the whole complex picture.

 

10:38.68

Debra Coleman

a

 

10:43.07

Erin Lebacqz

And now I'm thinking about the last time I was told, oh, Erin, that's a lot of details. And that was a man. Yeah. So, you know, there are different people for whatever reason who like the bigger picture. And then there are people who, like you said, want you to bottom line it. And it's just important to try to think which of those people is my reader.

 

11:01.97

Debra Coleman

Yes, exactly. And ah one last comment on this, because you touched on so much stuff. Oh my gosh. And that one answer, I was like, yes, this and this time being respectful of time and not, not only theirs, but ours as well, because I have fallen victim or been the, been the cause of this.

 

11:17.22

Debra Coleman

I wasn't clear initially, which caused maybe a nice tennis game of back and forth with emails to try and draw out.

 

11:20.01

Erin Lebacqz

Thank you.

 

11:23.18

Debra Coleman

Okay. Deborah, what is it that you, you know, that kind of thing. Whereas if I maybe would have structured my original email in a way that was more clear, that what I would have saved a lot of time, not only theirs, but mine as well.

 

11:34.23

Erin Lebacqz

That's a great point. Yeah, it's the writer's time too. And, you know, I don't know, but it kind of strikes me that maybe in that situation, um when you were doing more back and forth, I often end up doing that when I'm worried about seeming too aggressive.

 

11:48.50

Erin Lebacqz

And I'll be kind of like, ooh, what do you think about this? Oh yeah, maybe. And we start working towards a solution. But I will say on that note of time for ourselves and our readers, it's okay to cut to the chase.

 

12:02.26

Erin Lebacqz

and give our call to action and ask for things. I recently had someone in a workshop say, hey, Erin, isn't it kind of rude to tell people what to do? So in an email, I feel rude with giving a call to action.

 

12:13.57

Debra Coleman

No. Mm.

 

12:16.21

Erin Lebacqz

And I said, I totally get it. But the truth is that today it's ruder not to tell someone what to do because then they're spending 20 minutes wondering. And so if we feel rude in our call to action, just throw a please on the front, right?

 

12:30.44

Erin Lebacqz

Where if it's like register here by Friday to join the session, please register here. you know, we can still be clear and courteous at the same time.

 

12:35.78

Debra Coleman

hi

 

12:39.84

Erin Lebacqz

But I think it's when we get a little nervous about the relationship that we feel kind of worried about being so direct. But readers actually do appreciate directness.

 

12:50.65

Debra Coleman

ah Good point.

 

12:50.75

Erin Lebacqz

Because they're busy.

 

12:52.07

Debra Coleman

Yes, good point. And it that's right. Do you think that somehow that ties into, because I know for women sometimes, um and I don't want to speak for everyone, I'm just saying like generally speaking, we may struggle with feeling confident in our writing. Like like as you just touched on, I don't want to come across as too harsh. or I don't want to, am I okay? Am I too weak here? am i I think women, like men, it seems like they're just whatever and they just shoot it off, you know, whatever they

 

13:16.19

Erin Lebacqz

great

 

13:16.96

Debra Coleman

But we tend to, so what advice do you have for, for women or for someone who kind of second guesses every email or, or anything, anytime they have to engage in writing, they just really kind of shrink a little in themselves and don't feel as confident.

 

13:29.50

Erin Lebacqz

to Right. I know it's so tough. So there are a couple of sort of sentence level word choice things we can do and then I'll talk ah slightly more broadly as well.

 

13:41.68

Erin Lebacqz

um One thing I caught myself doing and I do believe it was because of being brought up as a woman to care about others of course, um but I was dismissing myself a little in my writing by using the word just often.

 

13:55.56

Erin Lebacqz

i would say just an idea but hey just wanted to mention um and I've heard other women say that they've caught themselves using the word only

 

13:56.14

Debra Coleman

um um

 

14:04.93

Erin Lebacqz

a lot, only an idea, just sharing my ideas, you know, but that is self dismissive, right?

 

14:05.87

Debra Coleman

oh

 

14:09.41

Debra Coleman

and

 

14:11.82

Erin Lebacqz

It's not just or only, it is important what you or I have to say. um So sometimes it's about just wordsmithing and trying to resist having those cultural training, like gender conditioning sneak into our writing.

 

14:26.77

Erin Lebacqz

um And what you can do instead is get right to the action. Skip any slow lead in, right? No kind of like, it has been found that I am writing to inform you that.

 

14:38.15

Erin Lebacqz

Get right to the action. um As I always say in my videos and books, lead with who and what. Who's doing something? What are they doing? You sound confident when you get right to the picture without sort of hedging in the beginning.

 

14:51.96

Erin Lebacqz

Like, it's just an idea, but I kind of wanted to let you know, we don't need to do that. um We can just say what we think. um And it it came up in a group of women that I was meeting with recently. It was ah so funny. I bet maybe you can relate.

 

15:06.48

Erin Lebacqz

Somebody said, hey, am I making myself look weak by using so many exclamation points in my writing?

 

15:13.03

Debra Coleman

Oh, mmm.

 

15:13.92

Erin Lebacqz

which I actually ended up making a video, am I using too many exclamation marks?

 

15:13.93

Debra Coleman

Mmm.

 

15:17.48

Erin Lebacqz

Because I also, i get a little enthusiastic. I tend to have a lot of exclamation points and sometimes, you know, I'll go in and take some of them out. um If I think it's making me look less serious or maybe even less confident.

 

15:31.55

Erin Lebacqz

um But I just want to add, you know, a kind of broader look too. In in a live session recently, a woman said, well, you know, we shouldn't always be the ones having to adapt ourselves either.

 

15:42.43

Erin Lebacqz

So, you know, I say i take out just and only and I make sure I'm not minimizing myself, but I still leave some of my authentic personality with an exclamation point here and there. You know, I'm still me and I think readers do want authenticity.

 

15:58.62

Erin Lebacqz

So it's still OK to sound like you, but I would suggest making sure we don't accidentally reduce our importance by the way we write.

 

16:07.61

Debra Coleman

Oh, reduce our importance by the way we write. So true. Because you ah you also have spoken in that regard in terms of writing can also maybe help you stand out and even maybe move up in your career.

 

16:20.01

Debra Coleman

Because if that's another way of just, I hate to say it, but that you are judged or, you know, not harshly, but just, you know, seen.

 

16:20.83

Erin Lebacqz

Mm-hmm.

 

16:26.55

Debra Coleman

Yeah.

 

16:27.46

Erin Lebacqz

for

 

16:27.62

Debra Coleman

in the in your organization or in your workplace. And if you are wanting to move up into a position of leadership or management material or that sort of thing, that kind of stuff maybe subconsciously is also kind of taken into consideration.

 

16:39.38

Erin Lebacqz

Big time. i think I've had people tell me that they know they rose in their organization specifically because they took writing seriously.

 

16:47.55

Debra Coleman

Wow.

 

16:47.66

Erin Lebacqz

And then they noticed, oh, my gosh, people are noticing me now. I mean, if you do something, if people end up with, hey, here's an email with a great subject line, main point call to action, bullets, everyone's happy, everyone gets informed.

 

17:01.82

Erin Lebacqz

You're basically developing a reputation for yourself as a clear thinker. um as someone who's able to get things done. and And it really does lend to our reputation quite a bit.

 

17:08.82

Debra Coleman

and

 

17:12.59

Erin Lebacqz

And even more so than speaking in a way, since writing lasts forever, for better or worse.

 

17:16.64

Debra Coleman

yeah

 

17:18.09

Erin Lebacqz

But it's a great opportunity to get promoted to just kind of start owning your writing. I always talk about writing should be goal oriented. What are you trying to get done? Who are you trying to connect with? And go after that goal through your writing and people will notice.

 

17:34.67

Debra Coleman

Oh, that's good. Can you expand on that little bit? Goal oriented?

 

17:37.96

Erin Lebacqz

Yeah, well, you know, i feel like most of us grew up just thinking that writing was basically about not messing up, you know, like, i don't want to do my comma wrong and get judged for it, right?

 

17:45.44

Debra Coleman

Mm-hmm. Right. Mm-hmm. right

 

17:48.90

Erin Lebacqz

So we get really in our heads with all the stress. But actually writing, like speaking or other actions we might take, we would want to do it with a goal in mind.

 

17:59.89

Erin Lebacqz

And to me, there's usually two goals. um And kind of the high value writing thought is founded on this idea that almost anything you write has what I call an informational goal.

 

18:11.25

Erin Lebacqz

OK, my goal is to let Deborah know here's the information about me and I'm ready to meet her at two. information, but I have a second goal almost always, which is a relational goal.

 

18:23.46

Erin Lebacqz

Oh, I have the goal to make Deborah understand that I'm happy to be on the podcast, to develop trust with her as I inform her.

 

18:26.76

Debra Coleman

you

 

18:31.73

Erin Lebacqz

So usually anything you write has at least two goals, an informational goal and a relational goal. And when we think about those goals, it makes the writing decisions that we need to make not feel random anymore, right? It's not like, oh, what order should I put this in? i don't know, B, C. But if we think about our reader, oh I'm trying to really reach this person and they care about C most.

 

18:56.07

Erin Lebacqz

Now I'm going to go C, A, B. Now I feel intentional. I don't feel random anymore, but I'm being goal oriented with my writing choices. And that's how you really get success with your messages.

 

19:06.87

Debra Coleman

Wow. Wow. I mean, not to so make it simplistic any way, but honestly, if you kind of keep those two in mind, i can see how that would help form your, you know, form your messaging or help you get things like kind of get things in clear ah clear is as you're composing whatever it is you're writing, whether it's five paragraphs or just two quick paragraphs.

 

19:14.84

Erin Lebacqz

Mm-hmm.

 

19:30.05

Erin Lebacqz

Exactly. Even texts, you can think about texts that one has sent to a family or a friend, and you might be trying to convey information, but also maintain the relationship.

 

19:31.45

Debra Coleman

Mm

 

19:36.17

Debra Coleman

hmm.

 

19:41.08

Erin Lebacqz

So we're kind of used to doing both, but we don't often realize in a work email, oh, right, there's this human, my goal has to do with my relationship with them, as well as letting everybody know that the meeting is at five or whatever.

 

19:53.74

Debra Coleman

Wow. That's true. It's almost like starting from the bottom up or for starting from the end to the big back to the beginning. um Yeah.

 

20:00.13

Erin Lebacqz

Yeah, exactly. Like backward planning is what they call it in teaching. Like, where do I want to get my students and how can I backward plan to get to that goal?

 

20:06.15

Debra Coleman

Mm-hmm.

 

20:08.19

Erin Lebacqz

And that's exactly right. Like I had, I worked with someone recently who said, she said, my boss seems to feel like I don't get things done. And I am going to change that perception through writing. And she started using these really powerful subject lines and main point sentences that showed what she was accomplishing. And it turned around his perception of her.

 

20:29.49

Erin Lebacqz

because she had that goal and she made writing choices on purpose to meet that goal.

 

20:34.20

Debra Coleman

Look at that. Wow. What a success story.

 

20:36.01

Erin Lebacqz

Cool.

 

20:36.79

Debra Coleman

yeah um

 

20:37.03

Erin Lebacqz

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

 

20:38.90

Debra Coleman

Wow. It matters. It really does because we can't get into the mind of the receiver.

 

20:41.39

Erin Lebacqz

um

 

20:43.22

Debra Coleman

We don't, I mean, unless you know them that well, but mostly in a professional setting. So you never know the kind of impact or impression you're making. And yeah, as you're illustrating,

 

20:53.74

Erin Lebacqz

yeah interpretation

 

20:55.33

Debra Coleman

Yeah. Yeah. A little, ah little thought, you know, before you start clacking away that keyboard, you know, um ah it can really pay off.

 

21:02.01

Erin Lebacqz

Exactly. Exactly.

 

21:04.67

Debra Coleman

Yeah. I love that though. Wow. Intentional and informational goal oriented. God, that's good. I like that. Cause sometimes when I find myself getting stuck before I hit send, um,

 

21:17.14

Debra Coleman

I will kind of reread it with, okay, well, what do you what what do you want this person to do with this information? Does this make sense to you? um Yeah. If I don't have someone readily available, like, hey, can you read this? I need a second set of eyes. Like sometimes we have to be our own set of eyes. and so, yeah, I like that you said that.

 

21:33.82

Debra Coleman

Maybe start from the end and work backwards. are Is this conveying what you want it to? Or is this going to get the type of information you're requesting? Or is this how you want to report out?

 

21:41.03

Erin Lebacqz

Right.

 

21:42.13

Debra Coleman

Yeah. Gosh, good stuff.

 

21:44.27

Erin Lebacqz

Yeah.

 

21:44.35

Debra Coleman

And I see how that all ties into our confidence, you know, because if we don't get the response we want, or we get like a big series of question marks and ah response to an email we sent or a text, we're like, oh, just kill me now.

 

21:53.40

Erin Lebacqz

Yeah.

 

21:56.65

Debra Coleman

I'm such a loser.

 

21:57.10

Erin Lebacqz

Great.

 

21:57.41

Debra Coleman

I obviously, yeah.

 

21:58.12

Erin Lebacqz

Yeah.

 

21:58.37

Debra Coleman

So yeah. Mm-hmm.

 

21:59.72

Erin Lebacqz

It doesn't feel good. Yeah, that's so true. And it's not hard to turn that around. you know Here's a mistake I made recently, and you can easily see how by turning this around, I could have a different result in the future.

 

22:11.74

Erin Lebacqz

I emailed someone with two asks. So i said my first ask, but it required some screenshots to support what I meant. So I put the screenshots like, here's what I mean.

 

22:24.24

Erin Lebacqz

Well, where do you think I put my second ask? Unfortunately, i put it all the way below like five screenshots.

 

22:31.73

Debra Coleman

oh

 

22:32.16

Erin Lebacqz

So, you know, who's going to scroll down through the screenshots thinking, I wonder if Erin needed a second thing? Nobody. You know, I mean, and so i I could be either thinking, oh, you know, I suck. No one's answering me.

 

22:46.88

Erin Lebacqz

Or, oh, what a rude person. She didn't answer my second ask. But instead, what happened is that I noticed, oh, this person wrote back with a wonderful answer to my first to ask. said nothing about my second ask. And I realized it was simply a formatting mistake on my part.

 

23:02.08

Erin Lebacqz

It wasn't really about her or me.

 

23:02.31

Debra Coleman

and

 

23:03.72

Erin Lebacqz

I just didn't set it up in a way for success. So we can easily do strategies that make it more likely that we'll get answers, and that we'll get follow-up action to what we asked for.

 

23:14.34

Erin Lebacqz

And then, like you said, that does come right back to, oh, I'm being effective. I'm getting things done.

 

23:20.86

Debra Coleman

Yes, exactly. I'm moving the needle. i People are taking me seriously. i obviously did good.

 

23:25.49

Erin Lebacqz

thank

 

23:25.82

Debra Coleman

I got the point across. Yeah, it all ties in. really, really does

 

23:29.45

Erin Lebacqz

ah

 

23:31.22

Debra Coleman

With your permission, I have... Can I just do a little sidebar shout out to all of the people who don't break up their paragraphs in an email? Like when you said like... When you said like, you know, oh, my ass was at the bottom and I didn't see it.

 

23:44.65

Erin Lebacqz

Yeah.

 

23:45.20

Debra Coleman

i I sometimes will miss... I openly admit this. Here we are on the show. I'm i'm being transparent. um If it's one big paragraph, I may not catch something because I'm just kind of like... I read it once and then I'm just going through and like...

 

23:56.68

Debra Coleman

Almost like it's a beautiful mind. Like I just pick out the words I need to...

 

23:59.64

Erin Lebacqz

No

 

24:00.82

Debra Coleman

Because guess what? You didn't break it up. So I might've missed it. So please start breaking up paragraphs.

 

24:04.08

Erin Lebacqz

kidding.

 

24:04.94

Debra Coleman

Okay. I'll stop now.

 

24:06.54

Erin Lebacqz

No, but it's true. I mean, ah some of the responsibility, a lot of people I work with will say, oh man, it's so annoying. No one ever does what I ask. And it's kind of like, well, what did the ask look like?

 

24:16.78

Erin Lebacqz

You know, if it was a huge paragraph.

 

24:17.33

Debra Coleman

Right. Right.

 

24:19.87

Erin Lebacqz

And so on that note, you know, we we can keep in mind a lot of people are not reading per se. These days they are more looking. or skimming or scanning.

 

24:30.28

Erin Lebacqz

And so if we make our emails scannable, like using headings and bullets, we are more likely to get answers because people can find what we wanted them to see so much more easily.

 

24:36.77

Debra Coleman

Yes.

 

24:41.03

Debra Coleman

So much more easily. If you're listening to what she just said, that's in bold and that is broken out in its own bullet point.

 

24:48.00

Erin Lebacqz

great. Highlighted.

 

24:50.70

Debra Coleman

I like it. Yeah, exactly. oh man. Which kind of is a, is brings me to, to my last kind of question here. and you, I mean, you might've known this was coming, but um I'm sure this is not the first time you've heard this.

 

24:59.71

Erin Lebacqz

Okay.

 

25:02.12

Debra Coleman

Here we go. a i and the way it's changing how we write.

 

25:04.31

Erin Lebacqz

Oh, yeah.

 

25:07.27

Debra Coleman

So what are your thoughts, Erin? I mean, we use it like from grammar checkers all the way to actually like generating content for us. Like, I'm just going here's my ask, just do the thing.

 

25:14.37

Erin Lebacqz

Right.

 

25:16.96

Debra Coleman

um

 

25:17.07

Erin Lebacqz

Yeah.

 

25:17.51

Debra Coleman

so ah What is your your thoughts around using AI as a helpful tool in in in our writing?

 

25:25.16

Erin Lebacqz

Yeah, I think like so much else in writing, it's a balancing act. um I think generating ideas, generating a draft is a great thing to do You know, it's a lot easier to get started sometimes with a little help from ai um and But the key is what you need to do before sending it, right?

 

25:44.69

Debra Coleman

you

 

25:45.38

Erin Lebacqz

I do hear from people in workshops that they feel hurt sometimes when they receive a message that appeared to be one-on-one but was obviously written with AI. um And so there is that new factor where people are feeling like, hey, it was just you and me. Couldn't you have just written your actual thoughts?

 

26:03.73

Erin Lebacqz

um Or I'll notice people using AI on LinkedIn or something in a way that seems, it doesn't really sound like the person. It's a little over the top, exaggeratedly positive or something like that.

 

26:16.65

Debra Coleman

Mm-hmm.

 

26:16.81

Erin Lebacqz

So we have to on one hand, you know make sure that we don't look like we didn't care enough to take the time. right And so what it comes down to is checking before we send something that included AI, you know does this jive with the relationship I have with this reader?

 

26:34.17

Erin Lebacqz

Does it have the right level of formality and respect? Does it have the right level of familiarity and informality, right depending on your relationship? Even though i really like how a lot of the tools now let you go in and say, make this more casual, make this more formal, whatever.

 

26:50.68

Erin Lebacqz

But that's for us to figure out, right? Like, what is my relationship with this person? How do I want this to sound? So I say, use it, but don't send it out without your own intelligence thinking about, well, what were my goals?

 

27:05.73

Erin Lebacqz

Is this going to meet that goal? Or might it accidentally sound snarky or overly formal or something like that?

 

27:13.12

Debra Coleman

That is so such good advice. because I think I've heard some folks who aren't quite sure about how to use AI, afraid of losing their voice and their authenticity.

 

27:22.49

Erin Lebacqz

the

 

27:23.36

Debra Coleman

um Like, oh, that doesn't sound like me. And then they just never mind. But you're right.

 

27:26.90

Erin Lebacqz

Right.

 

27:27.05

Debra Coleman

There are are ways to craft it differently. And I think it's also, like you said, what is it that you want to, you have to kind of have a grasp on what you want to say and what the point is and what the content is.

 

27:38.73

Erin Lebacqz

Mm-hmm.

 

27:38.93

Debra Coleman

At least that's how I use it. yeah And then I say, okay, kind of firm this up for me or check for grammatical or give it a friendly voice. But the overall like bulk, like the meat and potatoes came from me or came from my information or whatever.

 

27:49.88

Erin Lebacqz

yeah

 

27:51.03

Debra Coleman

So yeah, yeah.

 

27:51.94

Erin Lebacqz

kind of like the decisions came from you, but right.

 

27:53.16

Debra Coleman

Yeah. Right, right.

 

27:56.05

Erin Lebacqz

We get a little help with crafting, but we're the final decision maker about whether it meets our goals. Yeah.

 

28:01.59

Debra Coleman

Yeah. Yeah. Good advice. Yeah. We're the final decision makers. Exactly. Don't just copy and paste right from chatty G. ah Make sure it has your flavor.

 

28:07.42

Erin Lebacqz

Right.

 

28:10.63

Debra Coleman

It's correct. First of all, you know, um and that sort of thing.

 

28:12.88

Erin Lebacqz

Yeah.

 

28:13.79

Debra Coleman

Yeah. Well, thank you for that. I know that, um you know, AI is such a hot button topic right now, especially with writing. It's almost like they're a marriage, you know, going hand in hand these days. So I couldn't, couldn't wait to ask you about that.

 

28:24.77

Debra Coleman

Your thoughts on that.

 

28:25.45

Erin Lebacqz

Yeah. No, it's exciting as a time saver and idea generator. Well, and like you said about cleaning up errors too, but we just don't want to let it loose on our relationships without our consent.

 

28:32.71

Debra Coleman

Yeah.

 

28:36.78

Erin Lebacqz

Yeah.

 

28:37.30

Debra Coleman

Yes. yeah exactly Without our consent. Exactly.

 

28:41.39

Erin Lebacqz

yeah but

 

28:43.87

Debra Coleman

That's a good way to put it. Exactly. Oh, man. Well, Erin, this has been incredible. And i like I said, I'm that much of a little nerd bird that I could just talk so much longer about writing and um all the ups and downs about it. But I do thank you because this, I think, is very important, especially in this day and age where I think we're leaning into A lot of folks who are interested in more of that human interaction because we're feeling a little tech weary.

 

29:09.34

Erin Lebacqz

Yeah.

 

29:09.37

Debra Coleman

um and so writing, I think, is going to play an important part of that.

 

29:13.60

Erin Lebacqz

That's a great point. People are looking for connection and authenticity now.

 

29:14.85

Debra Coleman

Yeah.

 

29:18.48

Erin Lebacqz

So we have that opportunity with writing.

 

29:20.79

Debra Coleman

Absolutely. Absolutely. And if any listeners are are are just so turned on by what we're talking about today, where can they learn more about you and where can they find you?

 

29:31.28

Erin Lebacqz

Yeah, I would love to connect with folks. HighValueWriting.com is my website on YouTube. the The handle is just at High Value Writing and lots of videos for business writing.

 

29:43.02

Erin Lebacqz

Also some for school and other kinds of writing. And if you if anyone has a question, they can just leave a comment on a video because I answer questions every day. um So that's a great way to get in touch.

 

29:54.50

Erin Lebacqz

And lastly, i get we could connect on LinkedIn or feel free to check out my workbook, which has practice problems and QR codes to videos that support the learning in the workbook.

 

30:06.52

Debra Coleman

So great. Listen, I'm telling you firsthand, the high value writing website is you're going to bookmark that because it's just almost like a one-stop shop. um The content you provide, the information, the resources is amazing, Erin, honestly.

 

30:21.53

Erin Lebacqz

Thank you so much.

 

30:22.95

Debra Coleman

Yeah,

 

30:22.98

Erin Lebacqz

That's really nice. Thank you.

 

30:24.89

Debra Coleman

absolutely. And your YouTube channel is so well done too, for those who might be more visual learners or visual engagers.

 

30:25.34

Erin Lebacqz

Yeah.

 

30:29.89

Debra Coleman

um Yeah, well,

 

30:32.35

Erin Lebacqz

Yeah, it's fun to share action actionable strategies in a video. you know Most of them have examples or before and afters. So pretty fun, I think.

 

30:42.55

Debra Coleman

ah dan to I can see you're enjoying it. And that's what comes across as well.

 

30:44.62

Erin Lebacqz

Yeah.

 

30:45.47

Debra Coleman

Yeah, it definitely does. Well, I will have links to all of that in the show notes. Absolutely. And I highly encourage you to check out Erin's resources at her website, her YouTube, um connect with her on LinkedIn, because you know what, this writing is one of those skills that just is not going anywhere. And I think you just can't learn more. you just can't learn enough, you know, um about it.

 

31:07.22

Debra Coleman

So absolutely.

 

31:07.98

Erin Lebacqz

Yeah, you can really get where you're going through writing.

 

31:09.25

Debra Coleman

Yeah.

 

31:10.54

Erin Lebacqz

So it's a great skill to brush up on and kind of think I'm going to set a goal to make my writing really show my best self.

 

31:18.63

Debra Coleman

Yes. Let your writing, that's it. Let it help show your best self. Exactly. It could be your ally. Really. You know, if you think of it that way, I love that.

 

31:24.91

Erin Lebacqz

Yeah, that's a good way to put it.

 

31:28.88

Debra Coleman

Well, before I let you hop, Miss Erin, do you have time for one last silly bonus question?

 

31:33.62

Erin Lebacqz

I do. Yeah, silly one. Okay, I'm ready for it.

 

31:37.76

Debra Coleman

ah Okay. um As a busy professional, as you are with all of these, you know, your outlets of all the information you provide, you are out there doing your thing.

 

31:48.68

Debra Coleman

But when life gets crazy for Erin, what do you do to reset and rebalance?

 

31:51.63

Erin Lebacqz

ah

 

31:53.47

Debra Coleman

What helps you kind of bring you back to square one?

 

31:57.23

Erin Lebacqz

Well, personally, i hit the swimming pool. um I think we all have our place, whether it's the exercise movement aspect or a place that makes us feel like ourselves.

 

32:00.59

Debra Coleman

Wow.

 

32:07.95

Debra Coleman

Mm-hmm.

 

32:08.52

Erin Lebacqz

soon As i soon as my head goes underwater the first time, I go, oh, right, my whole life is back in focus. I feel good, you know? And I think it's so important for us to have something like that, right? Where it's like, I need something to lean on today. I'm having a hard moment. Oh, okay, I'm going to go for a run or go listen to music or go to this cafe and watch the birds, you know, whatever people react to.

 

32:32.24

Erin Lebacqz

But for me, it's swimming. Always has been.

 

32:35.95

Debra Coleman

Good for you. Were you on a swim team? Did you ever swim competitively or is it just purely, pure you know, just a pure like relaxation technique?

 

32:44.11

Erin Lebacqz

I did. i did used to compete and sometimes now I'll do an open water swim, you know, like a race in a lake or something like that. So it's mainly for fun though and for mental health.

 

32:57.12

Debra Coleman

oh that is so great. I love that. Well, you're getting back in touch with our, right? they so We came from water, some of us believe. So you're just kind of getting back into that, touching with that.

 

33:03.69

Erin Lebacqz

kind I think so. It feels right. And we all know something that feels right to us that can help us de-stress and re-center.

 

33:13.80

Debra Coleman

That's right.

 

33:13.81

Erin Lebacqz

and for

 

33:14.52

Debra Coleman

There you go. Re-center. Well, selfishly, we hope that you continue that practice because we are the recipients of when you find that Zen and then you bring that mindset back to your content and everything you provide.

 

33:25.20

Debra Coleman

oh Thank you.

 

33:25.82

Erin Lebacqz

ah Thank you so much like yeah

 

33:26.17

Debra Coleman

Keep it up. Find your inner Nemo. Just keep swimming. That's all we ask, Erin.

 

33:30.76

Erin Lebacqz

much.

 

33:31.72

Debra Coleman

ah ah Well, thank you. Honestly, Erin, this has been wonderful. I truly appreciate your time today.

 

33:38.49

Erin Lebacqz

Likewise, thank you so much for having me. Thanks everyone.