LEADERSHIP LAB: Writing Beyond the Academy 1.23.15

TL;DR

Smart individuals struggle with effective writing because they have been trained to focus on revealing their knowledge instead of creating value for their readers.

Transcript

all right uh let me go ahead and get started um please do finish eating that way i'm confident that you're getting something of value out of this out of this session my name is larry mcinerney let me tell you a little bit about why i'm here and what we're going to talk about and why i hope i can be valuable for you i'm the head of the writing progr... Read More

Key Insights

• ✍️ Smart individuals often struggle with writing because they prioritize revealing their knowledge instead of creating value for their readers.
• 🪡 Writing effectively requires understanding the needs and values of the readers to make the reading experience valuable for them.
• ✍️ Sentence structure and language choices can greatly impact the value and clarity of writing.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why do smart individuals struggle with writing effectively?

Smart individuals often prioritize revealing their knowledge instead of creating value for their readers. They have been trained to focus on demonstrating what they know rather than addressing the needs and values of their readers.

Q: How can writing effectively be different outside of the academic setting?

In the real world, the function of writing is to cause readers to change what they think or do. This requires understanding the readers and making the reading experience valuable for them. Writing should aim to provide new insights, challenge assumptions, and address the readers' questions.

Q: What is the key factor in making writing valuable to readers?

The key factor in making writing valuable is understanding the needs and values of the readers. By addressing their questions, challenging their assumptions, and providing new insights, writers can create value for their readers.

Q: How can sentence structure affect the value of writing?

Sentence structure plays a role in the clarity and conciseness of writing. It is important to consider the readers' perspective and ensure that the sentence structure allows for easy processing and comprehension. Clear and concise sentences make the reading experience valuable for the readers.

Key Insights:

• Smart individuals often struggle with writing because they prioritize revealing their knowledge instead of creating value for their readers.
• Writing effectively requires understanding the needs and values of the readers to make the reading experience valuable for them.
• Sentence structure and language choices can greatly impact the value and clarity of writing.
• Writing that challenges assumptions, addresses questions, and provides new insights is more likely to be valuable to readers.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Smart individuals have trouble writing effectively because they have been trained to prioritize revealing their knowledge rather than creating value for their readers.

• Writing issues often involve simple conceptual understanding, which is easier than more complex subjects that these individuals are highly knowledgeable in.

• Writing effectively requires understanding the needs and values of the readers in order to make the reading experience valuable for them.

• The focus should be on creating value for the readers by addressing their questions, challenging their assumptions, and providing valuable insights.