Featured Post from University of Delaware

How AI can improve poor leadership writing and boost productivity

Feb 11, 2026

2 min

Poor written communication from leaders can create the kind of confusion it intended to avoid. University of Delaware career expert Jill Gugino Panté suggests using AI to sharpen emails, clarify expectations and reduce unnecessary calls. Getting through to employees with strong messaging can boost productivity by saving time and reducing unwanted meetings, she says.

Panté, director of UD's Lerner Career Services Center, says that good leadership writing should be direct and outcome-driven, with no fluff, and offered the following advice for improvement.

✅ Don’t bury the lead. Start with what decision needs to be made, what action is required, and the deadline. If your writing doesn’t reduce ambiguity, it’s going to add to it. Vague communication can create interpretation gaps which, in turn, can create more meetings. When ownership isn’t defined, decisions aren’t documented, or outcomes aren’t clear, teams default to “Let’s hop on a call.” Meetings then become the fallback for unclear thinking.

✅ Generative AI can be a powerful clarity tool if it’s used intentionally. When used well, it can sharpen your ask and structure communication for action. The key is prompting it to refine your message, not just polish it.

Leaders can use prompts like:

• “Rewrite this message so the action, owner, deadline, and success metrics are explicitly stated"

• “What assumptions or ambiguities exist in this message?”

✅ Good writing can replace unnecessary meetings. If communication is not direct, outcome-driven, and structured for action, it will cost you time somewhere else.

Here are some practical actions that leaders can make in their writing:

• Start with the Ask - Be explicit about what decision or action is needed. Don’t make people search for it.

• Define Outcomes - Clarify deliverables, timelines, budgets and state what success looks like.

• Clarify Ownership - Identify who is responsible for the request.

• Document Decisions - Write down what has been decided and reiterate next steps, owners, and deadlines.

To connect with Panté directly and arrange an interview, visit her profile and click on the "contact" button. Interested media can also send an email to MediaRelations@udel.edu.

Connect with:

Jill Panté

Director, Lerner College Career Services Center

Prof. Panté can comment on workplace issues such as hiring, professional etiquette, personal branding, interviewing, and job search.

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