When Authenticity Meets the Algorithm
The truth is, everything I write is - in part - an opinion piece. And boy, can I be opinionated! As I get older, I get better at listening. I’m now more likely to say yes and... rather than yes but! In the spirit of exploration rather than dogma, let’s talk about authentic style.
A lot of people are using AI to perform communication on their behalf. AI is undoubtedly the ultimate yes man of today’s environment. If you have a highly developed style, AI can imitate it well. I use AI to structure and compile information. It’s brilliant at dealing with data. I sometimes use it to come up with subject lines and titles in response to what I have already written by myself.
Here’s what set me off…
In today’s communication environment undeveloped communicators are letting AI lead their style. Today, I received this message on LinkedIn from someone who wants to sell me AI services to automate my outreach:
hey Susan-Jane, checked out your profile and saw your work at Berkeley Rep and gotta say, love how you bring both craft and heart into voice coaching. that combo of vocal work and mindset stuff feels super rare but so needed right now with everyone trying to sound “right” instead of real
curious, when someone’s struggling to find their voice, do you usually start with technique or mindset first?
The last question is a hook, appealing to my expertise, aimed to get me to respond. “Curious” struck me as disingenuous. I found “with everyone trying to sound ‘right’ instead of real” quite ironic. And also ambiguous. Right as in correct for the occasion, or right, the opposite of wrong? English can be a nightmare! My negative reaction as follows:
Pure AI
Punctuation is like a text msg from one of my sons
I am Gen X - in my opinion this informal style is only appropriate to informal texting - know your audience
I am a Communication coach focusing on authentic style - haha know your audience!
I am not this person’s audience
About half of my clients speak English as a second language - they speak it well, but it doesn’t feel seamless for them. They want to access more of themselves within the language. Finding their own natural expression in English is key. This will in turn create greater freedom in their home language(s) as well. When you learn communication techniques, you transform all modalities.
My clients do not want to sound like AI, despite the fact that many of them are working in this field.
Who do they speak to daily?
Who are they trying to reach? ---> human beings
While I was irritated by the message on LinkedIn, sadness was at the heart of my reaction. I am saddened to see language styles flattening out. Variety and specificity connect audience to speaker most effectively. I know that the person behind the automation can develop a style that rings true and also serves their purpose. It’s also true that they can teach their AI to do a better job.
You don’t know what you don’t know however...
When the user approaches AI from a position of less developed awareness, AI will tend to form, rather than inform, the user. If you’re young and still figuring out who you are - a process that can take decades - it’s easy to enact a feedback loop with AI.
Tech companies tend to be structured laterally. Senior leaders may simply have titles like project manager or software engineer. You don’t always know who you’re talking to. If you find yourself navigating blindly in an informal culture, you can afford to be little informal, yet well-structured and articulate. Simply adhere to grammar and punctuation structures.
As opposed to Hey, you are safer saying Hello to someone you don’t yet know. So much is about context. If you’re 25 and you’re reaching out to someone on Instagram, Hey is perfectly acceptable. Ten years from now, this advice may not be relevant. I intend to keep listening and learning.
As a voice coach my role involves shining the light on my client’s best communication style within their specific environment and role. I ask questions and teach techniques to support goals as these emerge.
In my next newsletter, I will try to convince you that you can sound like your genuine self and develop an impactful speaking style!