Want to Improve Impact of Your Message?
Use Strong Verbs
Words we use create emotions in the minds of our readers or
listeners. Strong verb convey strong emotions. Strong emotions convey strong
message which induces the receiver to either take action which we want or
creates strong positive impression about us. Hence, if we want to create strong
positive impression about us or we want the receiver to take immediate action
on what we want, we must use strong verbs.
Verbs like Achieve, Acquire, Attain, Analyze, Assess,
Appraise, Complete, Create, Design, Develop, Draft, Direct, Establish,
Eliminate, Ensure, Forecast, Find, Introduce, Investigate, Implement, Launce,
Market, Manage, Operate, Organize, Present, Procure, Promote, Provide,
Recruited, Revise, Research, Recognize, Resolve, Schedule, Secure, Score,
Solve, Supervise, Target, Train, Teach, Team Up, Terminate are strong verbs and
we must get into habit of using strong verbs like these.
Use of strong verbs is extremely important in writing
resumes or during interviews.
Given below are some examples of use of strong verbs,
giving both desirable way and avoidable way of use of these words. The examples
given relate to resume building or interview situations. However, these strong
verbs can be used to even convey our strong intent. This article is based on an
article I had come across on internet during my research for a program on
Interview Skills
1. Achieved
Good example: Achieved the target of implementing
the software onsite for 200 users 15 days before the deadline.
Strong intent:
Will definitely achieve the target of implementing the
software onsite for 200 users 15 days before the deadline
Bad example: To implement the software onsite.
Why bad example is bad.
It sounds more like a responsibility. The interviewer is
mainly interested in knowing about your output.
2. BUILT
Good example: Built new premises to convert the
study centre into a residential college accommodating 200 student.
Strong intent:
Will build new premises to convert the study centre into
a residential college accommodating 200 students in 6 months
Bad example: To Build a new premise for the
residential college.
Why bad example is bad.
It sounds more like a responsibility. The interviewer is
mainly interested in knowing about your output.
3. DEVELOPED
Good example: Developed guidelines for 50 users to
understand and use the new process.
Strong intent:
Will develop guidelines for 50 users to understand and
use the new process in 1 week.
Bad example: Developing guidelines to use the new
process for client handling.
Why bad example is bad.
What guidelines? When? For whom? The good example answers
these queries and shows your output rather than your responsibility.
4. ELIMINATED
Good example: Eliminated the use of thick brown
tape for sealing the packages to reduce the cost by over 15 per cent.
Strong intent:
Will eliminated the use of thick brown tape for sealing
the packages to reduce the cost by over 15 per cent in 3 months.
Bad example: To eliminate wasteful of resources.
Why bad example is bad.
What type of resources?, How did your action help?, How
much was the saving?
5. FORECAST
Good example:
Forecast a downturn in the FMCG business because of
economic slowdown. Suggested measures to combat it and achieve the quarterly
target.
Strong intent:
Will suggest measures to combat forecast of downturn in
the FMCG business because of economic slowdown and achieve the quarterly
target.
Bad example:
To analyze and forecast the market.
Why bad example is bad.
How much downturn was forecast? What measures were
suggested?, What was the outcome?
6. INTRODUCED
Good example: Introduced a new process to handle
queries from potential customers to increase the conversion rate by 60 per
cent.
Strong intent:
Will introduce by end of next month a new process to
handle queries from potential customers to increase the conversion rate by 60
per cent
Bad example: Introducing a new process to handle
client queries.
Why bad example is bad.
What was the system? Where is the achievement?
7. MODERNIZED
Good example: Modernized a chain of 15 retail
outlets across three states to meet the taste of youth.
Strong intent:
Will modernize in next 6 months the chain of 15 retail
outlets across three states to meet the taste of youth
Bad example: To modernize the look of retail
chain outlets.
Why bad example is bad.
What changes were made. What was the achievement?
8. ORGANIZED
Good example:
Organized reseller conferences in three cities while
maintaining a close co-ordination with three internal departments and four
vendors.
Strong intent:
Will organized reseller conferences in three cities in
next 3 months while maintaining a close co-ordination with three internal
departments and four vendors.
Bad example:
Organizing events like exhibitions and retailer
conferences.
Why bad example is bad?
What were the conferences & events about? What
improvement in the business was achieved after wards?
9. RECOMMENDED
Good example:
Recommended five new ways to ensure that the company is
able to roll out the new its 'small car' before the launch of Nano.
Strong intent:
Will recommend five new ways to ensure that the company
is able to roll out the new 'small car' before the launch of Nano next month.
Bad example:
Recommending ways for the company to roll out its new
'small car'
Why bad example is bad,
What were the recommendations? Were they implemented?
What was the achievement?
10. SECURED
Good example:
Secured first position in the university while pursuing
MBA course and helped the college stand at the top of the list.
Strong intent:
Will secure first position in the university while
pursuing MBA course and will also help the college stand at the top of the list
Bad example:
University topper during MBA.
Why bad example is bad.
Very vague. Provides no additional information. What
grades were secured? , How many students?
You can visualize the change in impact of the sentences
in all cases of ‘Good examples’ and ‘Bad examples.’ Hence;
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