Latest news with #uniqueness
UAE Moments
13 hours ago
- Business
- UAE Moments
How could AI be your speech enemy?
Now, this title may sound unusual, given that we are surrounded by numerous articles and videos highlighting the importance of AI in nearly everything. Many people forget that AI is merely an assisting tool and should not replace them. Occasionally, I meet with a new client who has a strong belief in AI and utilizes it in numerous applications. They often share a script for their upcoming speech or presentation, and it takes me only one look to figure out that this is an AI-generated version. And the thing is, I have witnessed clients from different fields working in various positions share scripts of their speeches with me, only to find that their story narratives and talk skeletons are nearly identical. Following such scenarios, we will end up being clones of each other. When we ask people to present their reports and ideas instead of just sending them via email, it's because we want to allow them to explain their ideas more thoroughly, share the story behind them passionately, and showcase their uniqueness. However, relying mainly on AI to write your speeches will ultimately result in dull and repetitive speeches and presentations. I've said it many times: leaving a lasting impression and achieving influence isn't just about demonstrating confidence or having a solid structure in your content; it's also about showcasing your unique expertise and style through your content and performance. That's because you want to be recognized among hundreds because of WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU OWN, not because of just confidence and structure that anyone could demonstrate. Although it's common sense that speechwriters support officials and spokespersons in writing their speeches, those speeches should sound genuine and reflect the speaker's own voice. That's why, when I work on such positions, our top priority is that the speech sounds authentic, not like it was written by someone else. Even with the presence of professional speechwriters, they must write with the speaker's spirit, use the speaker's keywords, and adopt a style that demonstrates the speaker's personality. That is something an AI tool cannot obtain by giving it a couple of data points. Not to mention that you cannot demonstrate passion genuinely by delivering a speech that doesn't breathe ' YOU ' between its lines. Does this mean AI tools aren't helpful in public speaking? Of course not. There are plenty of other benefits for AI. Let me address some of them here: 1) Topics research and initial content creation: As I just discussed, the main ideas and message of your content should be your input; however, you can also depend on AI tools to gather resources for you, brainstorm ideas, and suggest case studies or statistics. Examples: Chat GPT-3 2) Content and Vocabulary Enhancement: When presenting in a different language than your mother tongue, sometimes we fall into the trap of using the same vocabularies or wrong Grammer that would affect the richness and clarity of your content, That's why you could depend on AI tools to generate different vocabularies to deliver the exact meaning you aim for, (Note: It's always recommended to choose vocabularies that are easy on your tongue. Do not trade smooth articulation for sophistication.) Example: Gabble – Speeko – Grammarly 3) Practicing and rehearsals: Now we can see AI-powered tools that assist in analyzing speeches or presentations, helping you during your rehearsal phase. Of course, the accuracy of these tools isn't enough yet to detect all areas of improvement, but they will remain good assisting tools. Examples: Orai – Yoodli 4) Presentation Design: There are plenty of AI tools that can assist you in designing your presentation slides, especially for quick and brief meetings. Of course, you'll need to adjust the slides based on your objective, audience analysis, and rehearsals to ensure a smooth flow. Examples: Canva – PowerPoint Designer – SlideSpeak Yes, technology is meant to make our lives easier, and it's always wise to stay updated with new tools, however Public Speaking has always been about human connection, which is why we need to remember that demonstrating who we are, how we feel, and what we own isn't an easy task that can be dictated by an AI tool.
Forbes
15-06-2025
- General
- Forbes
3 Ways The ‘You're Not Like Others' Line Traps You — By A Psychologist
Why does being appreciated for your uniqueness feel so validating? And what conditions does this ... More compliment come with? Statements like, 'You're not like other people,' 'You're not like the others I've dated,' or 'You're different. Special,' often land like compliments. They might even feel deeply validating, especially if you've spent much of your life feeling misunderstood. To be told you stand out, that you're exceptional, can feel like you're finally being seen after years of invisibility. Being singled out and appreciated touches something vulnerable: the part of you that's longed to be chosen for the very things that make you different. But these words that sound like flattery can subtly shape the way you show up in the relationship, pushing you to perform rather than simply exist. And when love hinges on being 'not like the rest,' it's rarely as unconditional as it first appears. Here's the psychology behind this common line, and why it may not be the compliment you think it is. Many people carry an internal belief that they don't quite fit in. It's a feeling often rooted in childhood exclusion, neurodivergence, trauma or simply being more observant than expressive. So when someone says, 'You're not like other people,' it speaks directly to that unhealed wound. It feels validating, even comforting, that someone finally sees your uniqueness. But what sounds like recognition can be performance bait. Instead of helping you feel safely understood, this kind of compliment can reinforce a sense of separateness. It puts you outside the circle of 'ordinary' people. And once you're placed outside that circle, it can become hard to relax or let your guard down. This has several consequences. A 2020 study published in Communications Research Reports, using the Communicate Bond Belong (CBB) theory, found that when people become more self-conscious about how they present themselves in social interactions, they tend to expend more social energy, experience less enjoyment and feel less connected in the moment. This is especially true in interactions where people feel they must maintain a certain image, often at the cost of their authenticity. So while being seen as 'different' may initially feel flattering, it often leads you into a silent performance loop. You start to self-monitor. You suppress your needs. You fear slipping up. Eventually, you may notice that you feel more tired after interactions instead of feeling more connected. Because what seems like a pedestal is often just a spotlight. And unfortunately, spotlights don't keep you company for too long. Once someone casts you as 'not like the rest,' you may begin feeling pressured to keep living up to that image. In romantic relationships, this pressure can feel especially heavy. You may find yourself: What initially feels like admiration can quickly become a role you're afraid to fall out of. Rather than building closeness, this dynamic breeds performance-based worth. One where you don't feel valued for who you are, but for how well you maintain the persona someone else admires. A 2015 study published in Self and Identity exploring how people present their relationships to others exemplifies this. It was found that individuals with high attachment anxiety (those more preoccupied with acceptance and rejection) engaged in heightened self-presentation when they anticipated interacting with another romantic couple. The study highlights how social comparison and relational visibility can intensify the drive to curate one's image, particularly for those already unsure of their worth. In essence, if you already fear being unlovable, being labeled as 'special' can heighten that fear. But when you start performing solely to feed your desire for approval, you also start losing your authenticity. In turn, the other person only connects with a polished version of you, not your whole, complex self. That's how flattery becomes a trap. Conditional affection starts as praise but ends in self-erasure. And when you finally show up as fully human, the admiration may disappear because it was never really you they loved, but the role that you played. If you've struggled with feeling 'not enough' in past relationships, it might feel validating when someone compliments you by putting others down. But, while these compliments may come across as genuine admiration at first, they're just comparisons in disguise. Comments like 'You're not like other girls,' 'You're not needy like my ex,' 'You're so chill, not like most people,' don't acknowledge who you are as a person. They merely shape you into someone more convenient — someone who won't ask for too much, feel too deeply or challenge their comfort. This is conditional positive regard in action. Research published in Journal of Personality in 2016 shows that, in romantic relationships, conditional approval (even when masked as praise) undermines relationship quality by threatening your sense of autonomy. When love is earned by meeting unspoken expectations, you begin to shrink yourself to stay accepted. The trap begins to close in on you when you start suppressing your needs, emotions and complexity out of fear of losing the admiration that once felt so affirming. What's worse, the person who once said, 'You're not like the others,' may one day say, 'You've changed,' or, 'You're just like the rest.' The compliment was never stable; it was a condition. You will know a connection is genuine when it doesn't ask you to compete with someone's past. It doesn't reward you for outperforming someone else. Rather, it makes space for your full, emotional, imperfect humanity, and still chooses you. Pay attention to what psychologically healthy dynamics sound like. Real, grounded connection is reflected in compliments like: These statements are anchored in specific behaviors and present-moment experiences, as opposed to vague comparisons or inflated ideas of uniqueness. They don't put you on a pedestal. While being seen as unique can feel wonderful, we have to be cautious when that uniqueness comes with pressure to uphold a fantasy, or worse, when it's built by tearing others down. Here's what you need to hear, or simply remind yourself: 'You don't need to be exceptional to be loved. You just need to be allowed to be yourself.' Because real intimacy isn't about being unlike others. It's about being truly known and loved, exactly as you are. Wondering if you can show up authentically in your relationship? Take the science-backed Authenticity In Relationships Scale test to find out.
