Defining a perfect article opener

I was listening to a silly radio ad about winter tires the other day, and it reminded me of a very common (but sometimes forgotten) article opener - the definition.

A definition is helpful when you're using a phrase your readers may not be familiar with (as I defined the term plain language in this blog post), but it's also an interesting way to start any article.

Often we use the same words over and over again and start making assumptions about what they mean, and how they apply to us. So try giving your readers the gift of a fresh perspective on a well-used term.

Here are some definitions that might be interesting to explore:

• Career coaches: Teamwork, reward, motivation, development

• Life coaches: Vision, balance, boundary, happiness 

• Parenting coaches: Discipline, love, need, model

• Business coaches: Sell, service, alignment, success

• Spiritual coaches: Faith, surrender, meaning, awe

Writing prompt: Head over to Merriam-Webster or another online dictionary and look up the formal definitions of the terms you use most often in your coaching conversations. Explore alternate or deeper meanings that could spark some insight for your readers. You can also check out these other 10 article openers.