Don’t underestimate the power of verbs in communication
Words matter, and they matter a lot. As Mark Twain purportedly once said, “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between a lightning bolt and a lightning bug.” So, I read with interest a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) by @Simons, whose name is Simon Ingari, a career counselor. Here are some of his suggestions on verb usage as a driver of interest and persuasion in résumés, though his advice can be applied to most professional communication. As you read, ask yourself why one word works better than the other.
Use vs. don’t use
Delete “Responsible for”: This is way too passive, as with “Responsible for managing team.” Hit the snooze button, and roll over for some more shut-eye. Try this instead: “Led high-performance team of six, driving 25% productivity increase.”