AI tools are being used everywhere these days. The efficiency and precision they bring is powerful, but as we mentioned in the blog post, AI: “Use it as a Prompt”, we never want to remove the human element from communication. Powerful, persuasive communication is authentic in tone and content. To achieve this using an AI tool, you should review each answer you get with a critical eye. Look for contradictions, research the “proof”, and consider whether or not you agree with the response. This extra step will help us preserve the “human touch” while we take advantage of AI.
In many of our business communication skills workshops, we teach how to ask effective questions. This is central to so much of what we teach, because questions play a large part in being a great “intentional” listener. It is a common sales technique to ask “why” 3-4 times to uncover a client’s true needs, and we have adopted that technique with a twist. We recommend asking the same question, multiple times, with slight variations, and not just asking “why.” Whether the question is not clear, or the person is not answering completely, it is common to not get to the root of a question until you have asked that question between 3-5 times.
For best results, we recommend you do the same with your AI tool.
For tools like ChatGPT or Bing Chat, we need to ask it a question to start the interaction. However, depending on the answer, we may not receive everything we need or anticipated, and we may want to uncover more. So, ask again. Refine the question, add more details, or ask a follow up question. Never take the first or second answer as the most complete.
Asking the question in multiple ways will help you facilitate and support this process by requiring you to be a great intentional “listener.” Read each response completely, with a critical eye and curiosity to dig deeper and learn more.
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Does your team:
– Overwhelm the audience with too much detail?
– Make things too complicated?
– Fail to ask for what they want or need?
Does your organization:
– Waste time because of poor internal communication?
– Take too long to make decisions?
– Struggle to clarify and frame discussions?
Do your leaders:
– Exhibit poor executive presence?
– Lean on incomplete communication skills?
– Fail to align the organization?
We transform teams and individuals with repeatable toolsets for persuasive communication. Explore training, coaching, and consulting services from The Latimer Group.
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