Platitude (plat’e-tood)
1. Commonplaceness; flatness; dullness
2. A trite or obvious remark, uttered as if it were fresh or original
Many candidates unwittingly start their essays with platitudes. For example, when writing the HBS essay “Tell us about a time when you made a difficult decision.”) a candidate might mistakenly write:
“Managers constantly face difficult decisions. Still, everyone hates indecision.”
The writer doesn’t “own” this idea and can’t lay claim to this statement. A simple alternative would be to insert his or her experience and viewpoint into the sentence:
“Yet again, I was in the boardroom with Steve, anticipating that he would change his mind on the MBA Mission file.”
By discussing your experiences, you take ownership over your story and engage the reader. Avoiding platitudes and generalities and ensuring that you are sharing your experience, instead of what could be anyone else’s, is a simple, but often overlooked step, toward creating a compelling message.
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