8 Tips to Boost Your Image Through Killer Writing

Whether they're right or not, your audience forms impressions of you based on your writing.

Readers assume that if your…

• Writing is sloppy: You don't care about quality.
• Writing is unclear: You can't communicate ideas effectively.
• Writing rambles on: You have no sense of purpose.
• Writing is formatted poorly: You have no sense of design.
• Writing is not tailored to your audience: You don't care about others' needs.
• Writing is too informal: You are immature.
• Writing is unorganized: You can't convey information effectively.

Luckily, writing clearly and effectively is easier than you think. The following 8 tips will significantly enhance your ability to communicate:

1. Decide for whom you're writing.

Put yourself in your audience's shoes: What do they want to find out about you? Make sure you give them what they want. Where do they expect to find what they're looking for? Make sure it's where they expect it to be.

2. Get to the point.

Writing is most effective when it's simple. Your reader doesn't want to follow you down a garden path. Almost anything can be clarified by putting it into fewer words.

3. Keep it skimmable.

Accept the fact that your reader is going to skim-read your content. Not because they don't like you, but because that's how people read text online. They should be able to grasp everything you have to say by reading only the first sentence of every paragraph. Always state your main point before you give reasoning that leads to it.

4. Use short sentences.

Simple writing is the single best way to communicate more effectively. If you were taught that longer sentences convey greater intelligence, you were taught wrong. The less extraneous words you use, the better you communicate.

The amount of time required to process a sentence with n words is n^3. If you cut the length of a sentence in half, it will be 8 times easier to read.

5. Don't sound stuffy.

Only use a Thesaurus for words that express an idea more accurately or more succinctly. If you use one to make yourself appear smarter, you'll end up sounding even less intelligent. Don't try to sound sophisticated or formal either, or you'll come off as stuffy.

6. Play the Devil's advocate.

Is there anything that might be misunderstood? If so, change it so that it can't be.

7. Proofread, proofread, proofread.

Fix grammar, spelling and punctuation. Then have two other people go through it for mistakes.

8. Keep formatting simple.

Use bulleted lists to convey information quickly. Use bold headings to help the reader decide which section will tell them what they need to know.

Evaluate right now how much you use these eight points.

How many do you regularly incorporate into your writing? Work them each into your writing process to enhance your ability to effectively communicate and exude a personal brand that stands for quality and clarity.

How to Become a Leader, Even if Your Company Isn't Helping

There's not much opportunity to lead when you're a recent college grad working for a big (or small) company. That's because leadership opportunities typically come only with age and seniority. That makes sense. But the smartest companies know that learning to be a leader is a key desire for most ambitious Millennials, so they create leadership opportunities even for their entry-level workers.

I recently spoke with a woman who was appalled at the fact that her newest 22-year old recruit was interested in what types of leadership opportunities were available at the company. The woman didn't understand what a 22-year old could possibly lead. I thought it was a perfectly acceptable request. But if you're in a company that doesn't have "Gen Y leaders," it's up to you to use everyday situations as your leadership training ground.

Here are four things you can do to practice for your future role as leader of the free world.

Make a decision

I can't tell you how many times I've talked in circles with friends about where we should eat dinner. Typically I will ask someone where they want to go for dinner, then he will respond asking where I want to go, and the conversation will eventually end with no decision made.

But leaders make decisions. They make much more difficult decisions than where to eat dinner. And they often have to make decisions with less than perfect information available. So the next time you're in a conversation where no one will choose, tell the group exactly where you want to go for dinner.

Try new things

I hate trying new things. I hate it until I do it, of course. Before I gave a speech, I hated public speaking– I was terrified. But I also knew that I usually end up enjoying things that I think I hate. So I wrote on my blog bio that "I speak with companies about recruiting and retaining Generation Y."

And when I spoke with my first audience on this subject, I was terrified. But I also had a blast and I learned a ton about people and about myself–because I tried something new. Being comfortable and competent in unfamiliar situations is a sign of true leadership ability. So whenever you have the opportunity to do something new, try it!

Surround yourself with people smarter than you

If you're going to lead any successful company, group or team, you must be able to lead people who are smarter than you. Successful teams are made up of successful people, and successful people are usually pretty smart. So befriend people who you consider smart and successful and make them part of your team.

This doesn't mean you need to take control and "lead" these smart friends to any particular destination. Just interacting with smart people and learning to hold your own in complex or thoughtful conversations is great practice for managing your smart team at your next job as CEO. If you're at the top of an organization there will always be someone you manage who knows more about something than you do, so you must be comfortable in this situation and able to evaluate what they know, even if it's a little over your head.

Embrace alone time

They say it's lonely at the top. I wouldn't know. But for one reason or another I have a feeling "they" are right. Leaders have to make the final decision, and inevitably not everyone will like the decision they made. Leaders must be comfortable being alone.

Also, there is something kind of refreshing about spending time alone. Once you get comfortable with it, you can step back and take an introspective look at your life and your goals and learn a little about yourself. And knowing yourself is the defining characteristic of a good leader, because before you can lead others, you must first figure out who you really are as a person and what type of leader you want to become.

What to Say When You Screw Up (Instead of that Same Old Excuse)

In the business world, knowing how to justify your actions is crucial because you will inadvertently screw things up, sooner or later.

But some people panic and give some utterly stupid excuses for why they acted the way they did. And what entry-level workers usually don't realize is that the same excuse that you tell your friend can not be the same excuse you tell your boss.

Here's what not to say:

Nobody told me I had to do that.

I've heard this one before, and hell, I've said this one before. But I've never known a manager that's listened to this lame justification and was okay with it.

As a professional, you're expected to know the obvious. So when you tell your manager that you didn't know you were supposed to do something, what you're really telling them is "I am an idiot." And you're furthering the stereotype that our generation needs to be coddled in the office.

And sure, there will be situations where knowing you had to do something won't be so obvious. But if you run into this situation, don't say that you didn't know. Just apologize, and say it will never happen again.

A good manager understands that new employees are fallible. So take accountability. You'll likely be perceived as someone who learns from their mistakes.

I got caught up with something else.

This one will sometimes work, as long as your manager really needs that something else. But if you use it without a good reason, forget about earning trust.

I knew a guy who would always use this excuse. Every time he had a deadline, he would defend his tardiness with his workload on another project. Managers started to give him less work. Imagine his surprise when he was only allowed to run one project at a time.

One of the biggest complaints I hear from young workers is a lack of substance in their work. If you're one of these people, don't even think about using this excuse. It will make your hunt for more meaningful work next to impossible.

If you're really having a hard time meeting deadlines, set up a meeting with your boss and ask them to a help assess your priorities. This approach will show that you're doing your best to deliver. And it's a lot better than whining about too much work.

My cell phone died. Or some other piece of tech.

Since technology is not always reliable, people are prone to using it as a legit excuse. But it's not. A good worker finds ways to get things done even when their equipment is out of whack.

Blaming technology for something you know you did wrong yourself is like blaming your dog when you fart. Sure, some of the time you'll get away with it, but for the most part everyone knows you're a liar.

Instead of relying so heavily on technology, take the time to make sure your work isn't always dependant on it. Easier said than done, I know, but there are ways to make it work.

In the meantime, put that makeshift excuse to rest. And the next time you make a technology-related blunder, just take the fall and don't blame your devices for your slipups.

Before you give lame excuses in the office, take a moment and think if you're excuse is truly legit. Don't underestimate a good manager. They've heard every excuse in the book. And if they catch you spouting off BS, you're never going earn their trust.

Thinking Inside the Box: Why am I So Busy?

When I gave my notice that I'd be leaving my padded cell (I mean cubicle), I assumed that the next couple weeks would be pretty dull, possibly downright boring. I had lined up all my favorite blogs and news sites for daily reading, and had even calculated how much walking around time I'd have on a daily basis. One day I'd go over the marketing suite and offer my unsolicited advice on how to sell our company ("The kids today totally love being told to respect authority and never question the status quo"), and another day I'd head over to accounting and tell them my brilliant scheme about how to maximize profits by simply telling the IRS that we don't have any money while hiding it all under rugs and behind paintings.

My carefree days were not to be however, as I was quickly brought back down to Earth by the horror that is "ongoing projects." You know those things that sit on the bottom of the pile for months on end because they aren't really mission critical and there's no real rush to finish them? Well, turns out you have to turn those in before you quit a job, otherwise they won't give you your last paycheck. And they throw tomatoes at you.

I have three of these mean little projects blocking my exit, and I've managed to knock out a couple of them without much trouble. The last one presents an issue though, as it's one of those tasks so mindless that it's hard to work on it for more than ten minutes at a time without needing to take a break in order to retain sanity.

It's sad to think that the human brain can be defeated by a simple spreadsheet, but I've always maintained that Excel is evil incarnate and now it's out to finish me off before I can find the source of its power and end its reign of terror for good.

So now I'm in the world's least thrilling race against time to get this last touch of work done, work which I've neglected for months but now suddenly must complete in a few days.

Oh well, this time next week I'll be free of spreadsheets, staff meetings, and ongoing projects forever.

Or at least until I get a new job.

A Work-Life Blend Is Not Always What You Think

Like many members of Generation Y, my first entry-level job put me in a place I didn't want to be – a cubicle. When I left the corporate world and got involved with Brazen Careerist, everything changed.

For the past six months I've experienced the ups and downs of working without the traditional office. And while that has its perks, I've seen some drawbacks too.

Yesterday, our company moved into a real office. No more coffee shops, no more business meetings in my apartment, finally, the real deal. I couldn't have imagined how amazing it would feel to be back.

Think I'm kidding, right? I'm not. Having an office that separates your work life and your personal life is a gift. Don't always take it for granted.

Here are three reasons why:

It's easier to be productive

All too many times when working at home I would find myself sitting on the couch, half working, and half zoning out. There's no doubt that today, in my office, I'm far more focused.

Between T.V. distractions, next-door neighbors, and a dog nibbling on your toes, home is just not a place to get things done. If you want to increase productivity, the best place to do it is an environment designed for being productive.

It's easier to communicate

Without a traditional office as a common working ground, our communication has suffered. And it's not that we haven't made an effort either.

Relying on technology to help you communicate is not always an effective way to get things done. If you can't connect in person with a member of your team at regular intervals, it's likely that your productivity—and your company–will suffer.

It's easier to go home

Your home should be your escape, a place of relaxation. What I hated the most about having only a home office is that I couldn't simply flip a switch and be done with the day. My laptop was always sitting there, beckoning me to do more work.

I'm much better off with my work-life and my life-life separated.

Before anyone jumps to the conclusion that working from home is going to be great, they should envision an existence where work and life no longer balance, but blend.

For some, a blend can be a wonderful thing. But for others, it's a recipe for disaster.

Think it over before deciding if remote work is right for you.