Use ChatGPT to Boost Your Productivity as a Consultant
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Image generated by AI using a free version of Canva
Of course you’ve heard of ChatGPT but are you using it to work smarter and more efficiently yet? If not, you should be!
Recently the Professional Independent Consultants of America (PICA) hosted a members-only roundtable discussion to help people jumpstart their use of this powerful tool. Special thanks to Alexis Hultine of Digital by Design, and Dave Seaton of SeatonCX for leading the session and sharing their insights. This article was written by ChatGPT using the transcript of the roundtable, but it was lightly edited. (The prompts I gave to ChatGPT are in the postscript.)
Why ChatGPT Matters for Independent Consultants
As consultants, innovation is our middle name, and staying ahead of the curve is crucial. As self-employed professionals, our time is especially valuable. For us, ChatGPT isn't just another tech gimmick; it's a virtual assistant that can elevate our creativity, enhance productivity, and revolutionize our communications.
Three Key Considerations When Using ChatGPT
Let's cut to the chase—here are the three key things to keep in mind every time you use ChatGPT:
1. Verify Its Accuracy
Use a Critical Eye: Remember, ChatGPT is your wingman, not the captain. Validate the information it generates; recent events might not be up-to-date in its vast dataset. If you’re using the free version 3.5, its dataset basically ends at 2021.
Do Quality Assurance: Treat ChatGPT like an intern. Give instructions, but always evaluate the output. Your expertise is the final stamp of approval.
2. Watch Out for Nuances
Mind the Bias: Generative AI, like ChatGPT, will likely inadvertently pick up biases. Be aware of nuanced biases, especially in areas like HR, where language precision matters. Gender, race, and age bias are common. [Example: The initial image for this article was of a female assistant so I changed the prompt to “non-human assistant.”]
Fine-Tune Descriptions: When using ChatGPT for job descriptions or client-facing documents, pay attention to language nuances. Tailor descriptions to avoid unintended biases.
3. Privacy First
Cleanse Your Data: Be cautious with sensitive information. Before using ChatGPT, cleanse data by replacing names and confidential details with generic terms like “Person A” and “Company X.”
Protect Trade Secrets: Don't risk exposing confidential client information. Use ChatGPT to generate raw materials and ideas, but don’t feed sensitive details into the model.
Incorporating ChatGPT into Your Workflow
Now that we've got the ground rules, how can you seamlessly integrate ChatGPT into your consulting? Here are some practical tips:
1. Idea Generation
- Use it to brainstorm ideas for blog articles, LinkedIn posts, client appreciation, outreach messages, and more.
- Use prompts like "Generate ideas for improving client engagement" or "Brainstorm innovative strategies for project XYZ."
2. Drafting Assistance
- Let ChatGPT assist in drafting proposals, reports, or blog posts.
- Provide key details, and let ChatGPT generate an initial draft for you to refine. (Like I did for this article!)
3. Email Optimization
- Before sending important client emails, run them through ChatGPT for a final polish.
- Ensure your communication is clear, concise, and aligns with your professional image. For example, ask ChatGPT: "Say this for me in three sentences or less” and then give it your original text.
4. Language Translation
- Leverage ChatGPT for accurate language translation in global client communications.
- Personalize communication with international clients by asking for short phrases in their native language, for example hello and thank you.
How Consultants are Using ChatGPT
The workflow suggestions above came from the roundtable transcript, but here’s the brainstormed list of ways to use ChatGPT by the roundtable participants:
Blogging: Generate first drafts and catchy titles.
Outbound Marketing: Craft engaging content for newsletters, emails, brochures, and LinkedIn posts.
Doing assessments: Brainstorm questions, format surveys, summarize data, and even design robust reporting tools.
Researching potential clients: Quickly identify and target potential clients by size, industry, geography, etc.
Refining proposals: Identify any gaps in your approach, missing assumptions, or inconsistencies in the text.
Drafting LinkedIn posts: Either short summaries to link to longer articles or longer “meatier” posts.
Crafting capability statements
Creating analogies for presentations
Coining marketing phrases
Analyzing workshop or focus group feedback
Enhancing email conciseness for senior clients
Summarizing extensive articles and technical papers
Translating technical content into easily understandable language
Listing potential conferences for networking
Outlining speeches and presentations
Generating profile avatars or images
Brainstorming just about anything!
Crafting Commands for Quality Output
The secret sauce to ChatGPT's effectiveness lies in prompt engineering. Craft your commands thoughtfully for higher-quality output, including instructions related to:
Goal Setting—Clearly state what you want ChatGPT to achieve.
Formatting—Specify the structure you desire such as a five sentence LinkedIn post or a 1,000-word summary of a project debrief including bullet points of the top five themes.
Depth Level—Guide the tool on the level of detail you need, from surface level to expert insights.
Learning Styles and Tone—Tailor ChatGPT's communication style to match your audience's preferences. If your client is a financial services company, you’ll want a more serious tone than if your customer is Burton snowboards.
Temperature Control—Adjust creativity levels by setting the temperature parameter in your prompts. This will control how creative the response will be, ranging from 0.2 (not creative) to 1.5 (really creative). For example, if you’re asking it to generate a sales letter, tell it to use a temperature control of 0.2, but if you’re brainstorming ideas for your kid’s birthday party, try 1.5.
Should You Pay for ChatGPT or Use the Free Version?
The free version of ChatGPT (GPT-3.5) is fast but lacks the quality found in the paid version (GPT-4). Investing $20 a month for GPT-4 is worth it, especially when you consider the improved output quality and the ability to enable plugins for web browsing, document reading, and more.
The Future of Consulting with ChatGPT
In the ever-evolving landscape of consulting, ChatGPT isn't here to replace us but to amplify our impact. Think of it as the intern you never knew you needed—a valuable assistant that handles the drudgery, allowing you to focus on what truly matters.
So, how can ChatGPT become your consulting sidekick? Share your thoughts, ideas, and experiences in the comments. The possibilities are endless, and the future of consulting just got a whole lot more exciting.
[Disclaimer: I wanted to delete this next part, but I’m leaving it so you can see what ChatGPT drafted based on the workshop transcript and my prompts.]
Conclusion: ChatGPT—Your Consulting Co-Pilot
As we wrap up this ChatGPT workshop, remember: innovation is the key to success in consulting. Embrace ChatGPT as your personal assistant, and watch your productivity soar. Get comfortable, create an account, and let ChatGPT become the game-changer in your consulting journey. Cheers to a smarter, more efficient future!
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Liz’s Postscript: This is the prompt I used to write this article. Obviously, I need more practice with creating effective prompts but it’s a start!
“Please write a blog article using the following transcript as input. Use a professional but somewhat casual tone. (Using contractions and a little slang is OK.) Make the article between 1000 and 2000 words. Put key points in bold text. Put the three key things to consider when using ChatGPT into a bulleted list. The purpose of the article is to encourage self-employed consultants (independent consultants) to use ChatGPT as an intern or personal assistant so that they can be more productive. As a result of reading this article, people will be encouraged to use ChatGPT and have some ideas for how to use it in their consulting business. Here is the transcript to use as input: [transcript omitted].
