Actions speak louder than words? Not always.

I've never liked the idiom "actions speak louder than words." Words can be meaningless and shallow, but so can actions.

You can't ignore what you're saying just because you do a damn good job at what you're doing.

If you're a real go-getter but you tend to offend or confuse people because you don't choose your words wisely, your words may inadvertently speak louder than your actions.

So how do you ensure that your words represent you well?

1. Think before you speak - Sounds simple, doesn't it? Think about how your words might sound to others. Know your audience and learn how to speak to them. And please, don't give me the "I'm just blunt like that" excuse. It's typically another way of saying "I'm rude and I don't really care what people think." This attitude doesn't bode well for one's career or one's personal life.

2. Watch for body language - Do people grimace or look uncomfortable after you've said something? Perhaps you're offending them. Watch out for this and heck, go the extra mile and ASK them if you've offended them. The moment of awkwardness will alleviate many more in the future.

3. Follow in the footsteps of people who have a way with words - Do you have a friend or co-worker who always says the right thing? Learn from them. My writer/reporter friends always ask people interesting, thought-provoking questions--on and off the job--that show that they're actually interested in what the person has to say.

4. Speak properly - Slang might sound cute, but omg does it come off as ignorant. Ask your significant other, best friend, roommate or anyone else you see frequently to alert you to when you're using 'like' 'umm' 'whatev' or other slang/filler words. You'll get so annoyed that they'll disappear from your repertoire in no time.

5. Learn to communicate well on paper and online - Communicating your thoughts online can be challenging. Read each post, comment, etc a second time--out loud is even better--to ensure you're getting your message across. If you think it might sound offensive or confusing, rewrite it or double check with a friend or co-worker. A quick once over is just as important when writing a paper as it is when creating an online impression of yourself.

You have fifteen minutes

Time. None of us ever seems to have any. We're all too busy tweeting, texting, posting and Google Plussing. (That's what I've decided to call it.)

Although many of us spend countless hours writing on social networks, most of us could probably use a refresher in the art of actual writing.

With the lack of time yet a desire—and need in many communications careers—to communicate well via the written word, is there a way to improve our skills while still managing our busy lifestyles?

Absolutely.

You have 15 minutes a day to spare. Trust me, you do. Try these three techniques that, when used together, take less than 15 minutes, and watch your writing improve.

Pick a topic; it can be anything. For example, say your topic is "How to become a better communicator." In 10 minutes, aim to write three well-written paragraphs on this topic.

1. Practice writing creatively

Set a timer for one minute. During your allotted minute, come up with three talking points on your topic. As you get better at this, really challenge yourself to think innovatively and choose topics with which you aren't very familiar. You might surprise yourself.

For example:

a. Learn to use body language that engages your audience.

b. Speak with assuredness—avoid "umms" and "uhhs."

c. Read often so you're able to speak confidently about a number of topics.

2. Learn to write quickly and clearly

After your minute is over, set your timer for 10 minutes and power out a clear, concise essay on the topic and talking points that you chose. This exercise will help you not only to think on the spot, but also to save time as you learn to get your ideas on paper quickly.

3. Practice editing your work

You have four minutes left. Use these four—and only four—minutes to edit your essay.

Do this every day, perhaps twice a day, and watch as your writing improves.

Bonus tip: Read at least one post a day from your favorite writing advisors: Ragan.com (shameless plug), PR Daily (shameless plug No. 2), Grammar Girl, or resources like Purdue's online writing lab. Put what you learn into practice in the above writing challenges.

I know this technique helps because I witnessed a very good friend improve his writing skills in a week—a week, folks!

It's your turn. You have 15 minutes—GO!