Me and Chat GPT: What I Learned about Myself

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I resisted Chat GPT. More out of fear than curiosity. 

My fear is not that, as an author, it would displace me. Nor did I fear that I would, like Gollum in Lord of the Rings, strive for it, reach it, and turn into something evil -- a plagiarist.

When I quote from others, I cite the source. As an author and columnist, I pride myself on my ability to generate original writing.

So would using something "artificial" lessen my opinion of myself and my writing?

Perhaps. 

Gathering information

But, in the interest of science as we say, I tried it out, my fingers trembling (not really, but it makes for a good image) when I pressed go on my first query “Compile quotes by John Baldoni on leadership.” Here are the top three quotes.

•  Leadership is not about being in charge. It's about taking care of those in your charge.
• A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others.
• A leader's most important job is to inspire and motivate. When you do that, you empower people to want to do their best.

I recognized these quotes, so I pushed on to the following query. "Compile quotes by John Baldoni on grace.” Again, here are three more quotes.

• Grace is not a gift one can receive or bestow; it is a state of being that we embody.
• Grace is the ability to move forward with dignity, even in the face of adversity.
• Leadership requires grace, the ability to extend kindness and understanding even when it is not deserved.

Synthesizing ideas

Pretty simple. I queried, "Write a 500-word essay about grace based on the writings of John Baldoni."

Minutes later…

Grace, as defined by John Baldoni, is the capacity to show kindness, generosity, and compassion towards others, even when they may not deserve it. It is the act of giving someone the benefit of the doubt and treating them with respect and dignity, regardless of their background, beliefs, or actions. Baldoni believes that grace is a critical aspect of leadership and is essential in creating a positive work environment.

According to Baldoni, grace is a form of leadership that transcends traditional authority structures. It is not just about being kind, but it is about treating others with dignity and respect, even when they may have made mistakes or have opposing views. Grace requires humility, empathy, and the ability to put oneself in someone else's shoes. A leader with grace understands that everyone has a story, and they seek to understand those stories, rather than just judge others based on their actions.

Baldoni also emphasizes the importance of grace in the workplace. A leader with grace creates a positive work environment by treating employees with kindness and respect, even when they may have made a mistake. This type of leadership fosters an atmosphere of trust, where employees feel valued and appreciated…

In conclusion, John Baldoni's writings on grace highlight the importance of treating others with kindness, generosity, and compassion… Therefore, it is essential for leaders to incorporate grace into their leadership style, as it has the power to create a positive impact in both their personal and professional lives.

Not bad. Like a survey course college term paper. Concise, correct, and coherent. Nothing exciting, but it does the job. [Note: I shortened the essay for this post.]

Creative approach

So then I asked Chat GPT to write some ad copy for my forthcoming book, Grace Under Pressure: Leading Through Change and Crisis.

"Experience the power of grace under pressure with John Baldoni's new book. Learn how to lead and succeed in challenging times with practical advice and real-life examples. Elevate your leadership skills and thrive in any situation."

Pretty good. It is serviceable. If I use, I have no issues with my authorship. It is ad copy for my work, same as I might hire a copywriter to do. But as my fellow author and leadership learning colleague, Dan Pontefract, says, “It’s just another tool and not an author.”

Of course, the output is only as good as the input. Therefore, the query must be as creative as the desired outcome. Compiling is machine learning; creating involve a degree of intelligence. 

Biggest fear

I do, however, have a more significant issue, a bigger fear.

AI may – and likely will – produce something more insightful, delightful, and wise than anything I might write myself.

And that scares the heck out of me.

Let me know what you think.

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Coming soon Grace Under Pressure: Leading Through Change and Crisis – the book! It focuses on how leaders prepare for the future by taking care of their people and themselves with greater grace and purpose. Order your copy now.

Catch my Grace Under Pressure interview with Joel Garfinkle, author of Executive Presence: Step into Your Power, Convey Confidence & Lead with Conviction.