Have you ever used a salad diet to cut calories or increase your intake of nutrient-rich foods?
Did you have good results?
Instead of losing weight or improving their health, many salad-eaters do not reap great benefits. The reasons are akin to why speakers and writers are unsuccessful when they rely on word salads to express themselves.
Whether we’re talking about assembling ingredients for our meals or choosing language for our communications, three basic elements are necessary to create crisp, satisfying content. Consider the kinds of thoughts that may come to mind when Purpose, Proficiency, and Planning are lacking.
ONE: Purpose must be firm, not as flimsy as a lettuce leaf.
Edible salads:
“Salads are popular, so maybe I should eat them.”
“I don’t want my followers to think I’m not serious about nutrition, so I always wear a hat and sunglasses and use the drive-through when I go to fast-food restaurants.”
“I choke down salads for dinner to enjoy my brownies and ice cream for dessert.”
Word salads:
“Lots of people are talking about the topic, so I need to address it.”
“I want people to think I care about it.”
“People want to hear my view on this even though I don’t have one.”
TWO: Proficiency must be deep, not as shallow as a splash of vinaigrette.
Edible salads:
“What’s the big deal about eating organic vegetables?”
“I’ll prepare my grandmother’s salad: green Jello on a slice of iceberg lettuce.”
“How could the combined ingredients in this salad have over 2,000 calories?”
Word salads:
“This is what I’m hearing from others on the topic, but I don’t have any firsthand experience.”
“How does that concern have anything to do with this topic?”
“I should not have taken on this debate.”
THREE: Preparation must be intentional, not as neglectful as chopping before peeling.
Edible salads:
“Oops! I forgot to wash the tomatoes.”
“I cut the avocados too soon, so they turned brown and made the salad unappetizing.”
“I didn’t need the croutons but tossed in the entire package without thinking.”
Word salads:
“Off the top of my head, I can’t think of a simple way to explain this.”
“I had no idea they would ask this question, so I’ll just have to wing it.”
“I lost track of what I was going to say.”
Just as producing a well-crafted salad that fulfills your needs requires smart preparation with quality ingredients, effective communication demands some degree of commitment, expertise, and organization.
So, toss those word salads! Instead, be intentional about when to chime in. And always strive to deliver a substantive message with clarity. Your words will more likely resonate with your audience and better serve your reputation.
Sallie W. Boyles, a.k.a. Write Lady
Thoughts or questions? Please contact Sallie Boyles, owner of Write Lady Inc., to exchange ideas about effective communications and gain from professional writing and editing services. Receive monthly tips and insights by subscribing at https://WriteLady.com.
