Not Today, Sauron: Using GenAI to Craft Compelling, Audience-First Communications

Do I look like a Lord of the Rings fan??

Recently, I stumbled upon an email buried in my spam folder that referred to my “coaching services” as...?

?“like having a personal Gandalf guiding professionals through the perilous journey of communication and leadership.”?

The nine-paragraph email went into so many variations on the wizard-unicorn-magic theme that I did, in fact, read the note all the way through (I suppose, in that way, it was effective at capturing my attention). And then sent it to my team with a laughing emoji.

Did I respond to the sender? Nope.?

While I appreciate a good analogy and am a fan of many things (skiing, tennis , figure skating, women advocating for themselves , watching my kids excel), Lord of the Rings just isn't my thing. But that’s not what struck me about the email.?

What stood out instead? The author’s reliance on AI to convey a message while neglecting to establish a genuine connection with the human recipient (me). It's an easy pitfall to stumble into. ChatGPT might offer impressive capabilities , but it won't nudge you to prioritize the human touch.??

In a world of Lord of the Rings spam emails, authenticity and recognizing humanity on the other end of your communications is key. Sure, you can churn out ChatGPT-generated emails by the dozen, but if you truly want a meaningful response… prioritize human connection and put your audience first . Because you can copy and paste ChatGPT-generated emails left and right, but will they generate the response you’re looking for? Likely not.?

Don’t get me wrong… it’s really, really convenient to have a shiny robot friend to help streamline your inbox, your keynote writing, your pitch deck. Do I think using GenAI to spark ideas, create drafts, check grammar, and gauge for impact is a good idea? Definitely.?

So, how do we strike a balance? How do we harness the power of new technologies while preserving authenticity, humanity, and genuine connection??

A Brief Guide to Using GenAI for Crafting Connection-Driven Communications?

1. Define Your Audience & Objective?

Before you open any app, begin by clearly defining the purpose and objective of your communication. Whether it's drafting an email, preparing a speech, or writing a brief, outline the key points you want to convey, who your audience is, and the desired outcome (hint: think about how you want your audience/recipient to FEEL and ACT after reading or hearing your message). GenAI can assist in generating content, but having a clear objective and recipient will help guide its suggestions.?

2. Utilize GenAI for Content Generation?

Leverage GenAI to generate initial drafts or ideas for your communication piece. Provide key information about your client, audience, and the context of your message. GenAI can help streamline the process by suggesting language and structuring content to meet your goals.?

3. Review and Customize?

Once you receive suggestions from GenAI, review them carefully. While GenAI can provide valuable input, it's essential to customize the content to reflect your unique voice, the appropriate style, and knowledge of the recipient or audience.

Tailor the language, tone, and examples to resonate with your specific recipients and establish a personal connection. Remember to pause and ask, “So What?” after each point to ensure the message matters.?

4. Inject Personality and Authenticity?

Infuse your communication with personality and authenticity to create a genuine connection with your audience. Share personal anecdotes, insights, or experiences that resonate with the recipient's interests, needs, or challenges. Keep in mind the form (if it’s an email, maybe you don’t need 3 paragraphs about that time you went to get ice cream with your grandma… but maybe that story will be particularly impactful to a keynote audience), and don’t be afraid to tap into vulnerability when appropriate.

Adding your personal touch ensures that the message feels sincere and relatable. Remember: the recipient on the other end isn’t looking for perfection… they want connection. Worry less about perfect grammar and more about whether your words and stories will resonate.?

5. Edit and Refine?

After customizing the content, take the time to edit and refine your communication. Pay attention to grammar, punctuation, and clarity to ensure that your message is polished and professional (as needed… there may be some audiences who will resonate better with a less polished performance).

GenAI can assist with proofreading and suggesting improvements, but the final review should always be done by a human to ensure accuracy, coherence, and impact.??

6. Check for Known Areas of Improvement?

Think through the feedback you’ve gotten recently and ask GenAI to review your content through that lens. Maybe your mentor reminded you that you don’t need to apologize so often; your boss encouraged you to create more space for other voices; your team asked for more data; your coach is encouraging you to take more ownership of your work… whatever you’ve been working on, double check that you’re following through using the tools at hand.?

And please, even if ChatGPT gives you a really good unicorn analogy... consider whether the Lord of the Rings themed pitch is the right way to go.

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At Lange International, we work with executives and their teams to approach every high-stakes moment with confidence, curiosity, and poise–and have fun while doing it! We work one-on-one with leaders and also deliver keynotes and workshops for companies around the globe. Looking to level up your communication? We’d love to connect.