Ready to stop sounding like a robot? When AI first burst onto the scene, we…
How to Train ChatGPT to Sound Like You (Like, Really You)
Remember when AI first rolled onto the scene and everyone was like:
“Oooh, it can write emails! Blog posts! Social media captions!”
And then you tried it and thought:
“Cool cool cool… but why does it sound like a middle manager from 2011 wearing a headset and using phrases like ‘synergize’?”
Yeah. Same.
In those early Large Language Model (LLM) days, the results were… meh. Even if you gave it your best prompt, ChatGPT would spit out copy that sounded professional — but not personal. Too polished. So generic. Very “I’d never say that in a million years.”
But now? I’ll be honest—mine sounds uncannily like me. (Like, spooky good.)
So what changed?
It’s not that AI suddenly woke up one day and decided to stop being boring.
It’s that I trained it to stop being boring.
Here’s how.
1. I kept showing up. (And so did my voice.)
One of the best things you can do with ChatGPT? Keep using it.
Every time you interact with it—whether you’re editing a LinkedIn post or drafting a “Thanks but no thanks” email—you’re giving it little breadcrumbs of your brand voice. Over time, those crumbs turn into cake.
And I don’t know about you, but I prefer cake over crumbs.
The more you use it, the more it picks up on your:
- favorite phrases (hello, “create impact, not noise”, and “sesh” instead of “session”)
- tone (empathetic with a splash of sarcasm and sass)
- structure (short paragraphs, because nobody asked for a wall of text)
2. My prompts got better. (Because I stopped being vague.)
Telling ChatGPT to “write a blog post for my business” is like telling a barista to “make a coffee.”
Okay… but what kind of coffee? What size? Hot or iced? Oat milk or whole?
Once I started telling it:
- who I’m writing for (introverted professionals, not tech bros),
- how I sound (approachable, a little cheeky, allergic to corporate speak),
- and what I don’t want (no “optimize synergies” nonsense, thank you very much)…
…it stopped sounding like a robot in a pantsuit and started sounding like, well, me. With a splash of sugar-free vanilla sweetener.
Want your AI to sound like you too?
Here’s how to train your ChatGPT to channel your voice—not just a voice:
️ Upload your brand voice guide
If you don’t have one, create a quick doc that outlines:
- Your tone of voice (funny? wise? nurturing? dry like a martini?)
- Common phrases you use (and ones you’d rather scream into the void than say)
- Words you NEVER use ( “chef’s kiss,” I’m looking at you)
Bonus points if you throw in a few “this sounds like me” vs. “this definitely doesn’t” examples.
✉️ Feed it your favorite emails or posts
Drop in a few pieces of content that made you say, “Dang, that’s good—and it’s me.”
AI learns by example. Give it the ones you’re proud of. The ones that got replies. The ones that made people hit “like” faster than you could say “algorithm.”
Add audience insights
Who are you writing to?
Tell ChatGPT about your audience’s:
- tone preferences (lighthearted, direct, thoughtful, etc.)
- pain points (social fatigue, branding overwhelm, perfectionism)
- communication style (give-it-to-me-straight vs. tell-me-a-story)
This helps AI write to your people, not just at them.
Keep a list of “you-isms”
This is low-key one of the most powerful things you can do.
Make a list of:
- Things you always say
- Phrases your clients repeat back to you
- Funny metaphors or analogies that are so you
- Your personal no-no words (again: “synergize,” ew)
The more “you” you put into ChatGPT, the more “you” it gives back.
Let’s repeat that together “The more you put into ChatGPT, the more “you” it gives back!”
What Did You Learn?
ChatGPT can sound like you. But only if you teach it to.
Think of it less like a robot, and more like a junior copywriter who’s eager to please—but doesn’t know your vibe yet. Feed it what it needs, coach it kindly, and pretty soon it’ll be whipping up content that makes you go, “Wait… did I write this, or did AI?”
Where We Tease This A Bit Further…
We touch on the use of AI (without losing your humanity) inside my upcoming Visibility Sprint Challenge. It’s a 3-day Thought Leadership Challenge that gets you off the sidelines , and into the game in your industry!
So if you’re tired of being a cheerleader and want to play a bigger game -let’s do it together (and no, AI did not write that metaphor – all me – hope you liked it!)
When: October 21–23
What: Learn how to use AI to create visibility-friendly content—without the cringe
How: Save your seat here → www.leannecalderwood.com/challenge
Cheers,
Leanne
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