¶ Welcome to One Simple Thing
Welcome to Leading People with me , gerry Marais . This week , it's One Simple Thing , where in each episode , I share a quick , actionable tip to help you bring out the best in yourself and others the best in yourself and others . One Simple Thing is created for young leaders , but hey , us older folks can still learn a thing or two . Ask my dog .
He's learned a few new tricks recently
¶ The Communication Question
. Here's a question for you when was the last time you paused before hitting send on an important message and asked yourself will this land the way I want it to ? In the previous episode of One Simple Thing , we looked at how to craft emails that land well , with the right tone , clarity and call to action .
But what if you've already written the message and you're not sure it's working ? We've all been there writing something and then thinking does this sound right ? Will they get the message ? Is this too formal , too vague ? And the good news you don't have to figure it out all alone
¶ Using AI as a Writing Mirror
. Which brings me to today's one simple thing how to use AI to strengthen your written communication without losing your human voice . Now let's get one thing straight from the get-go this isn't about outsourcing your voice .
It's about using AI tools like ChatGPT as a mirror , an editor and a thought partner , not to write for you , but to help you write more clearly , intentionally and effectively . Here's how I use it . I often draft a message and then ask the GPT questions such as Can you make this more concise without losing warmth ? Does this sound too formal ?
Summarize this in three bullet points for me , please . Or I run the message through a custom checklist , such as a quintillion check who , what , why , how , when , where and so what . And yes , ai helps me apply my own frameworks better . The trick is I stay in control . Ai gives me clarity , but I give it purpose . Why does this matter ? There
¶ Benefits of AI-Assisted Communication
are three reasons . Number one , you improve faster because you get instant feedback . Number two , you clarify your own thinking because you have to explain it to the AI first . And number three , you feel more confident sending high-stakes messages because you've already tested them . Ai doesn't replace your voice , it reveals it .
Wait , you mean I can coach myself using AI ? Yes , when you know how to ask the GPT the right questions . Now let's talk about skepticism for a moment . Some leaders worry that AI makes your messages robotic or inaccurate , and that's valid if you're asking the AI to do the thinking for you , but that's not what I'm suggesting .
I'm suggesting you use it like you'd use a coach Ask questions , reflect , refine . You are still the leader , you are still the communicator and you are still in charge . Ai just helps you slow down , test your tone and sharpen your message .
¶ Addressing AI Skepticism
So next time you write something important an email , a proposal , a team update Run it past an AI tool , ask it . What might be unclear , is this too long ? How could I improve the structure , etc . Then edit , decide and own it .
¶ Practical Next Steps
And that's another one simple thing . Thanks for tuning in . Remember small steps can lead to big changes . Test out this one simple thing and notice how it transforms your day . Let me know how you get on . Reach out on LinkedIn and connect with me .
Mention the podcast and if you'd like to learn more One Simple Things , then subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast channel and follow our LinkedIn Leading People page Leading People page . In our next episode of One Simple Thing , we'll explore another easy way to be a great leader by bringing out the best in yourself and those around you .
And in between , you can check out one of my longer conversations with leading people about yes , you've guessed it leading people . So until then , keep exploring and stay curious .