Writing Clarifies Thinking
When you write, you force ideas out of abstraction and into coherence. It’s where strategy gets sharpened. Vision becomes language. Leadership becomes legible.
Indra Nooyi, famously wrote more than 400 letters to the parents of her senior executives expressing gratitude. Her practice? Writing as a ritual of alignment and appreciation. It wasn’t a task. It was a strategy.
And the benefits aren’t anecdotal. A 2023 study by Harvard Business Review found that leaders who regularly engage in reflective writing make decisions 23% faster with greater long-term impact.
Writing Builds Trust
People follow leaders they understand. There is always a time and place for an em dash. However, with ChatGPT-generating language that teeters between stiff and robotic to overly-conversational and corny, authentic, well-structured writing cuts through. Whether it's a LinkedIn post, a company memo, or a keynote draft — your writing style becomes a reflection of your leadership brand.
According to Edelman’s 2024 Trust Barometer, 64% of people trust CEOs more when they communicate directly and authentically. This is especially true for women in leadership. When Sallie Krawcheck regularly published thought pieces on Ellevest’s blog and LinkedIn, readership spiked by 45% and so did platform engagement. Her writing wasn’t performative. It was persuasive because it was personal.
Writing is Private Leadership Work
It’s not always about publishing. Sometimes writing is just for you.
Journaling before a board meeting. Drafting a letter to your future self. Outlining what you really think about a thorny decision. These are acts of self-leadership. And they’re often where the best breakthroughs begin.
Conclusion
The AI tools will only get better. But the leaders who take the time to write what they think and reflect on the voice they want to have, will be the ones who keep something human in their process. Writing is how you stay rooted in what’s real. So block the time. Get tactile with paper and pen and write.
