From Printed Words to a Conversation
The Impact of our Writing and Why it Matters
Good afternoon, Hardos!
Please enjoy this lovely, lunch read, courtesy of CPT Czarnogursky.
"Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, the actions of individuals can have far-reaching effects." - Dalai Lama
AI generated image.
“Is my writing having an impact?” I have asked myself this question more than a few times, especially when I half-jokingly tell others that my journey with writing feels like an accident. The conclusion I have drawn: Yes, when people start talking about it. When it comes to reading an article, we value interesting wartime stories, lessons shared, or counterpoints to commonly held beliefs or systems. We find the reads pleasurable or maybe even thought-provoking. As an author of such writing, when are you assured of impact on the target audience? And is having impact even important?
Our writing has impact when people start talking about it. The impact is the shared link, the text messages, the lunch time discussion, the coffee pot chatter, or the phone call with another person. It is important because it generates action, change, and growth. Whether you are digesting the latest article you scrolled to on LinkedIn or sending out a link from your branch journal to your team, let us all start the conversations to put what we are writing and reading into action.
Initiate Movement
An article’s impact starts when it is shared, digested, discussed, summarized, challenged and expanded.
I received a forwarded email thread from a warrant officer I worked with on my last deployment. He congratulated me on a recently published article and said he wanted to share the attached email thread. As I scrolled down, I saw a CW5’s personal summary and call to action, derivatives from my article, sent to my division commanding general and senior leaders across our large formation. That day, the thoughts, ideas, and attached article found its way into the inboxes of battalion commanders, staff, and key leaders. In this instance, all it took was one leader, a keyboard, organizational credibility, and an email distribution. He initiated movement when he clicked the “send” button, opening the gate for conversation across echelons.
Elevate through Story Telling: Champion and Celebrate Our People
An article has impact when we highlight what our people do; they feel seen, heard, and valued.
I woke up one morning on a deployment to a message from my company’s Health and Holistic Fitness (H2F) Strength and Conditioning Coach. The article I submitted a few weeks prior had published overnight my time and quickly circulated across social media pages. Coach Brad, our strength and conditioning coach, wrote, “I don’t know if you’re able to receive this right now, but I can’t thank you enough for mentioning me and the work we did in this article.” A passionate and dedicated coach, who went above and beyond, was recognized and championed for his role on our Army team. He served as a model for other coaches and H2F programs to get creative. And what he did was read by thousands.
In another case, an article I wrote about the impact and benefits of the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence Program generated a series of emails from civilians working in the U.S. Army Ordnance branch and for the award program at various echelons. The excitement in their emails, as they felt seen, valued, and that their focal area was getting attention, meant the world to me. It takes a storyteller, work with an editing team, and publishing with an outlet.
Coach. Teach. Mentor.
An article has impact when people follow up with the author with questions- seeking advice, new ideas, or counterpoints.
On occasion, I will receive an email or message from someone seeking advice or thoughts on the topics of an article I wrote. Usually, it is someone looking to implement a change or try the concepts mentioned in the given publication. It might be the most exciting part of this writing journey for me. And not because someone reached out to me to talk about how I wrote something, but because the reader digested the article, started thinking about it, and now we are having a conversation that has the potential to turn into actionable change. I will continue to say that it is important for us to write and tell our stories. It is equally as important to follow up with those who read the writing and now wants to do something with it.
Don’t Let it Stop There: Turn the Conversation into Action
Like a good book-club discussion (I was in lots of these at my local library growing up), writing becomes more interesting and impactful when the words on a page turn into something more. If you are inspired, confused, intrigued, or motivated by something you read, start a conversation with someone. Ask questions, further the points with your own, and take action. We learn from our own experiences and each other. Let us all continue writing and reading so we can get talking; and let us get talking, so we can start doing.
CPT Melissa A. Czarnogursky is currently a LTG (R) James M. Dubik Writing Fellow and a prior-service field artillery sergeant. Her operational experience includes service and deployments in U.S. Central Command, U.S. Africa Command, and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
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