When AI Has Flattened Your Brand Voice

You know that one person who used to write awkward emails?

The kind that made you cringe a little - but at least you knew it was them. Then suddenly, all their emails start with:

“I want to thank you for your valuable input… your perspectives really helped us gain insight…”

And you think: AI is writing me now.

And maybe - just maybe - you start to miss those clumsy, slightly chaotic messages because those had a human personality. This new version? It could’ve come from anyone. Or worse, from no one really.

Grammatically flawless. Structured beautifully. But emotionally vacant. That’s the cost of letting AI shape too much of your voice.

You need edges that make you memorable - in your writing, in your brand, even in your LinkedIn posts.

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When your voice becomes interchangeable

Many leaders are using AI to draft emails, write blogs, and even generate LinkedIn content. That’s not inherently bad - it’s smart to save time. But when your tools erase your tone, your rhythm, your quirks… you lose more than words. You lose presence. You lose personality.

And when those disappear, so does trust. Because your audience doesn’t just want clean copy.

They want to feel YOU in what they read - not some anonymized, optimized shell that sounds like everyone else.

Photo by Elena Ramseier on Unsplash

Here’s how to spot when your voice has gone missing - and how to bring it back.

Five signs your voice has been flattened — by AI or by corporate speak

1. Your sentences could belong to any company

“We strive for innovation.” “We value collaboration.”

If your words sound like they came from a brand guide - not your brain - that’s a problem. (I am guilty of this.)

Try this: Drop in a phrase only you would say. Something informal, honest, even a little odd. That’s what sticks.

2. Your rhythm’s gone quiet or flat

Used to write in fits and starts? Maybe the occasional one-word or two-word sentence?

You end with … (Guilty of this too.)

If your writing now follows perfect structure from start to finish, AI’s probably cleaned you up - too much.

Try this: Vary sentence length. Add a fragment. A pause. Write how you speak - not how the tool completes your sentence. The more people use AI, the more we will appreciate a human voice.

3. Buzzword build-up

When your content is stuffed with words like “scalable,” “synergy,” or “best-in-class,” chances are it’s trying too hard.

Try this: Choose plain, honest language. Swap “solution” for “thing that works.” You’re not less credible — just more human.

4. You stopped telling stories

Stories create connection.

If your message is all statement and no scene, it becomes forgettable fast - especially on LinkedIn.

Try this: Add one detail - a moment, an image, a line from a real conversation. You’ll stand out just by being specific.

5. There’s no emotional residue

Your post or email might be “well-written,” but no one feels anything afterward - not even you.

Worse, you might feel less proud of your work. That’s a huge red flag. That’s the quiet grief of a flattened voice.

Try this: Ask yourself, what did I feel when I wrote this? Then leave a trace of that in the message.

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A Quick High “Five”

A quick pre-send check — for anything from emails to brand pages to LinkedIn posts:

1. Original phrase

Ask: Could anyone have said this?

Try: Add one phrase that sounds only like you.

2. Rhythm

Ask: Does every sentence sound the same?

Try: Break it — use a pause or a short fragment.

3. Buzzwords

Ask: Am I hiding behind jargon?

Try: Replace one buzzword with plain speech.

4. Story

Ask: Is there a concrete moment or detail?

Try: Add a small scene, quote, or sensory cue.

5. Emotion

Ask: Can I feel a trace of feeling here?

Try: Leave in the feeling — not just the facts.

You don’t need to hit all five.

One or two is enough to signal: this was written by a real person. Not a prompt.

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The Responsible Step

Before you hit post, publish, or send - PAUSE.

Whether it’s a note, a landing page, or a LinkedIn post.

Ask: “Did I leave my unique fingerprint or tone here?”

Your brand voice is your unique presence. Polish it too much, and you sand off the soul. What’s left is so smooth it‘s empty.

AI can help you write faster. But it can’t help you sound like you.

Only you can do you. Be the pink chair.