Client Spotlight: Melissa Carson is a strategic advisor for leadership and organizational endurance who works with founders, CEOs, and HR leaders who want to go the distance knowing there is no finish line. A graduate of Pathway to Publication, she wrote “The Best Investment Organizations Can Make Right Now” for Lioness Magazine.

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Have you ever been tempted to change how you write to avoid being accused of using AI? I know people who have removed em dashes, changed lists to avoid abiding by the rule of three, or intentionally added typos to their writing just to make it clear that a human — not a bloody robot — wrote the thing.

But by taking such preventative measures, we let the tail wag the dog.

And yet, I get it.

Today, if you choose not to use generative AI, you're told you're a dinosaur and that you need to evolve with the times. If you do use generative AI, however, you may not simply be asked about it; you may be accused of doing so, which implies that you cheated.

So, what do you do when faced with this no-win situation?

Reframe the situation.

If someone asks whether you used generative AI and you did not, tell them. If they don't believe you, well, that's their choice. And it gives you some insights into how they operate and how they assume others operate. Now you get to choose whether to explore their concerns further or walk away.

If someone asks whether you used generative AI and you did, tell them that as well. Share why you used it and how it helped you refine your thinking. If you're embarrassed that you used generative AI, ask yourself why. Did you rely on it too heavily? Or does your embarrassment stem from fear of how others will perceive you as a result of using it at all?

AI is just a tool.

Some people find it helpful. Some don't. Some use it wisely. Some don't.

But it's still just a tool.

To normalize our ability to choose if, when, and how we use generative AI, I recommend that you develop an AI disclosure statement and an AI usage policy. The AI usage policy offers a general overview of the various forms of AI you use and how you use them. The AI disclosure statement shares how you used AI for a specific piece or project.

Generative AI tools like to keep you in their platform for as long as possible, which is why they seem so helpful. To use these tools intentionally, decide how you are going to use them in advance. To guide your use of these tools, imagine if you had to share every session — every prompt, the generated responses to every prompt, and details about how those responses shaped your writing — with your clients, prospective clients, and partners.

By using generative AI in this way, you'll never fear disclosing how you used it or sharing a link to your prompts and responses and reviewing exactly how you used the tool to clarify your thinking.

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Join the Conversation

On Differentiation and the Mythical Category of One

No matter how amazing you are, no matter how niche your offer, no matter how unique your approach, you will never be able to position yourself as a category of one. And that's okay. In this post, I share why I believe the category of one is a myth and what we're really talking about when we talk about differentiation. I'd love your thoughts! Join the conversation.

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Recommended Resource

AI Usage Policy

Developing and sharing an AI usage policy is good business. (It also may become a requirement.) By publishing such a policy you help your clients, prospective clients, and partners understand if, when, and how you use AI, including generative AI. To get started, review my policy and use it as a starting place for developing your own. Review the AI Usage Policy.

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Upcoming Events

The Published Authority: Build Your Reputation with Bylined Articles

Sharing your expertise in high-visibility publications is the fastest way to build your authority. But how do you bridge the gap between a good idea and a published piece? Join me and executive ghostwriter Dana Herra to dive into the strategy, craft, and business of bylined articles. Register here.

The Authority Lab 

Interested in learning how to build your authority by writing for your newsletter, blog, or a high-visibility publication? Join me on Wednesday, April 8, at 11:55 AM Eastern for a mini-training on defining your body of work, followed by a Q+A. I host this free event every month. Register here.

Master Class: How to Write for High-Visibility Publications

In this free 60-minute master class, I will share the SILVA Method™ and walk you through the process I use to help my clients secure bylines in publications like Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and TD Magazine. Join me for a master class on Tuesday, March 24, at 1:30 PM Eastern. Register here.

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If you would like to explore working together, drop me an email or book a call. I'd love to learn more about you and your business and how I might be of service.

Take good care,

Ready to Invest in Building Your Authority?

If you're ready to invest in building your authority through writing, there are three ways we might work together:

1. Writing Practice: A community that offers monthly writing, peer editing, and skill-building workshops. Membership is $150 a month. Write on!
2. Pathway to Publication: A high-touch, personalized accelerator for consultants ready to build their authority by writing for high-visibility publications. Tuition is $1,000 a month. Apply today.
3. Authority Development: One-to-one services that help you create and implement an authority development strategy. Learn more.

AI Disclosure Statement: I used LanguageTool, an AI-based grammar checker, to review this newsletter. To learn more about how (and when) I use AI, review my AI Usage Policy.