AI-Informed Communications Approach: Using ChatGPT to Develop, Structure, and Revise What You Say and Write
Recently, I listened to the audiobook of Oliver Burkeman’s Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals. On 1.5x speed. My friends pointed out the irony of this. A book about how to slow down, appreciate the limited time our one life offers, and not equate efficiency to a higher quality of life, and I listened to it at 1.5x speed while folding laundry.
With AI technologies like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bard, we have yet another tool to help us get ahead. And I am all for AI tools because over the past year, I’ve experimented with them, and they has proved time and time again its value. They have saved me time and given me great feedback to make sure my communication is on point. I truly believe: The future of communication has an AI-informed approach.
The truth is the way we communicate is always evolving. Email, Zoom, Slack, Instagram. And now products like ChatGPT that draw from LLMs or Large Language Models are like having a really smart study buddy to help you improve your communication skills.
Let's explore three cool ways that you can use to take your communication to the next level using ChatGPT.
1. Refining Interview Skills with AI Feedback
Imagine having an insightful mentor review your answers to common interview questions and provide tailored feedback. That's exactly what ChatGPT can do for you. By asking ChatGPT to review a mock interview, you can get feedback on your content. And maybe in the future, you can also get feedback about your delivery skills.
How to Leverage ChatGPT:
Mock Interviews: Use ChatGPT’s audio function to simulate interview scenarios. Feed it questions you anticipate and answer the questions, and ChatGPT will transcribe your answers.
Transcript Analysis: Then, ask the AI to analyze your responses, your use of language, and the structure of your conversation.
Constructive Feedback: Request specific feedback on areas like clarity, concision, and confidence. ChatGPT can suggest improvements for less coherent sections.
2. Crafting Concise and Impactful Emails
In the business world, time is precious, and lengthy emails are often skimmed rather than read. ChatGPT can transform your verbose drafts into concise, clear, and impactful messages, ensuring that your emails never go unnoticed.
How to Leverage ChatGPT:
Initial Draft: Write your email without worrying about length or clarity. Pour your thoughts and information into the draft.
AI Revision: Ask ChatGPT to shorten the email without losing the essence. Specify if you want the tone to be formal, persuasive, or friendly.
Feedback Loop: Review the revised email and seek further refinements if necessary. You can ask ChatGPT to focus on certain parts, like the call to action, or to ensure that specific points are emphasized.
3. Adding Vivid Content To Your Next Presentation
Did you know that we take in over 34 gigabytes of information each day through our eyes and ears? You might be asking yourself, how much is 34 gigabytes of information? These kinds of calculations are what ChatGPT is made for. 34 gigabytes is the equivalent to 7,253 books, 11,333 photos, or 34 hours of video.
A screen grab of a ChatGPT calculation.
The book Making Numbers Count by Chip Heath and Karla Starr emphasizes that many scientists and engineers want to use statistics and facts to support their claims but don’t translate those numbers into a language our brain can easily understand.
How to Leverage ChatGPT:
Be Specific: Clearly define your topic and audience to ChatGPT. Example: "Provide an analogy for quantum entanglement for a non-scientific audience."
Iterative Refinement: Use feedback loops with ChatGPT to hone the analogy. Example: "Adjust this analogy to highlight the unpredictability in quantum mechanics."
Diverse Angles: Explore various domains for analogies. Example: "Give a nature-based metaphor for data encryption."
“ChatGPT is just another tool to help us communicate effectively and it is no substitute for real human connection”
Over the last 30 years, the way we communicate has drastically evolved from email to Zoom to Slack and Instagram. Each one has proved its value - it has increased efficiency in our day-to-day communication. But each tool has begged this question: does this tool help or hinder human connection?
Ultimately, we are the consumers of the product. ChatGPT is just another tool to help us communicate effectively and it is no substitute for real human connection. Being facilitators and coaches, we see the faces of our clients light up when communication with each other is genuine. Moments like these can change the way people think, perceive, and feel.
Caveat: Yes, you still need to choose the right tool for the job; AI is not a silver bullet to solve every communication problem. And your company most likely doesn’t want you to feed AI companies with all their sensitive data. From a communication’s perspective, if you allow ChatGPT or Bard to be the sole author of what you say or write, your audience will without doubt be able to tell that a computer has written it. That is why we are recommending an AI-informed communications approach. Ask it for help, keep your eyes wide open, and then take things into your own hands. You are the one in control.
And just because the product allows you to be more efficient, doesn’t mean the quality of your life will (necessarily) improve. If you use ChatGPT for work communication, let us know how you have used it in the comments. If you haven’t used it yet, try one of these suggestions and let us know how it goes.
