AI is not the consultant. You are.

Jul 15, 2025  •  4   • 718 

Why persuasive power, real-time communication, and human ownership are more important than ever in the AI era.

The power of the conversation

You know the drill: you’re sitting with a client, or leading a workshop. The report is solid, the numbers check out. But it’s not until you explain it; in your own words, your own framing, your own nuance, that the message actually lands.

Consulting isn’t Wikipedia with a tie. It’s a human craft.

And yet… we’re increasingly supported by tools that generate reports, draw conclusions, and even draft emails in seconds.

That’s not a threat. It’s an invitation.
An invitation to be even more aware of what you bring to the table.

AI as a turbocharger

Let’s be clear: AI can be brilliant.
I use it daily to boost my workflow. For example:

• 🧠 Turning messy notes into readable text.
  You throw in a bunch of half-baked sentences, and ChatGPT spits out something polished.
  But the thought, the logic**, the connections? Those still come from you.

• 🔗 Linking information.
  If you’re working with multiple sources, AI can help suggest patterns or themes.
  But only you can spot the real connections that matter. That’s the essence of consulting.

• 📊 Visualizing ideas.
  Flowcharts, Mermaid diagrams, visual summaries: AI can now whip them up from a voice note. “If A, then B, unless C — draw it.” Boom. Done.

But here’s the thing: that’s still not persuasion. That only starts when you explain that diagram to the client. Clearly. In their language. With empathy and direction.

The risk of distance

Sometimes you feel it right away:
An AI-generated text that’s just… too smooth. Too corporate. Too polished.
And as a result: emotionally flat. Empty.

You read it and think:
“Sure, it sounds okay… but this isn’t how I talk. This isn’t me.”

And that’s the point.
AI isn’t you.

If there’s a message with your name at the bottom, make sure it actually sounds like you. Not like a chatbot trained on how consultants tend to write, but like a person with a perspective.

Human in the loop = Human at the wheel

The best setup isn’t man or machine. It’s man and machine.

You as the author, AI as your co-pilot.
You create the message, AI suggests a tone.
You spot the nuance, AI polishes the sentence.

That’s called “human in the loop.”
I’d rather call it: “human at the wheel.”

Let AI assist. But never let it decide.
Let it help you phrase something. But ask yourself: “Would I actually say this to a client?”

Because that’s your ultimate test.

AI can write, you must persuade.

🎓 Time for a quick Aristotle throwback

When we talk about persuasion, we have to mention a timeless classic: Ethos, Pathos, Logos.

• Ethos → Credibility: Why should they trust you?
• Pathos → Emotion: What do they care about? What’s at stake for them?
• Logos → Logic: What facts or proof support your argument?

AI is great at Logos. It can spit out facts, summaries, and structures all day long.
But without Ethos and Pathos, it’s just a Wikipedia voice-over.

That’s where you come in.

You bring the why you (ethos): your expertise, track record, real-life insight.
You bring the why this matters (pathos): the sense of urgency, empathy, impact.

So, how do you use AI well?

Let AI help with:

• ✅ Structuring scattered thoughts
• ✅ Sketching visuals like charts or diagrams
• ✅ Generating metaphors or framing ideas
• ✅ Cleaning up style and formatting

But you bring:

• 🗣️ The human tone
• 🎯 The context
• ❤️ The story that connects

If it doesn’t sound like something you’d actually say in a live meeting, rewrite it.
Because people don’t want a chatbot. They want you.

The consultant of the future

The consultant of the future is not a data robot.
It’s someone who partners with AI, but leads with presence.

Someone who uses tools to prepare faster and then shows up better.
Someone who understands:

Persuasion isn’t automation. It’s connection.

And no algorithm can replicate that.

🎯 Try this mini-exercise

Take a recent email or slide you wrote with AI support.
Read it out loud.
Ask yourself:

“Would I say this in an actual client conversation?”

If not: rewrite it. Make it sound like you.
That’s how trust starts and how real influence happens.