A little GenAI experiment on the blog
I originally was going to send a note apologizing for not having a proper post for this week. It’s a short one, with a national holiday on Thursday which I am bridging by taking Friday off (yes, this post is scheduled). But then I had an idea which should consume less of my time, this little GenAI experiment…
Don’t get me wrong, I still stand by my principle that I want this to have my voice, so call me old-fasioned, but I am sticiking to write authentically. After all, one of my mottos is “thinking out loud” – which explains a lot what I try to do here.
Don’t get me wrong (again), I find GenAI a fascinating and powerful tool. I see myself relying upon it more and more – I rarely Google things anymore (speaking about old-fashion, sometimes we do have to let some things go…).
So here’s the experiment:
Would a GenAI tool be able to grasp what I write and what this blog / newsletter is about, and be able to nicely articulate it?!
Short answer: I think it did a pretty decent job! Despite indicating that it wasn’t able to have full access to the content, and therefore could only rely upon what could access based on search responses.
It broken down into 5 themes (and the below descriptions are just slightly adapted from the original from the tool):
Conceptual Thinking for Practical Leadership: Sperb emphasizes that conceptual thinking is essential for effective leadership, particularly in complex environments like knowledge work and technology. In posts like “To be practical, be conceptual” (Mar 10, 2023), he argues that understanding underlying principles and frameworks—drawing from thinkers like Clay Christensen and G.K. Chesterton—enables leaders to solve problems practically and navigate uncertainty.
Reflective and Insight-Driven Leadership: The publication frequently shares curated insights (note: I actually stopped that quite some time ago, at least as a dedicated post topic. I still often share about things I learned recently though, so there’s a theme…). These suggest a focus on distilling valuable ideas from various sources to inform leadership practices, encouraging leaders to stay curious and continuously learn.
Adapting to Technological Shifts: Sperb addresses the impact of emerging technologies, notably in “Generative AI (ChatGPT): what should it make us think to get the best out of it” (Dec 6, 2022). He explores how leaders should approach tools like generative AI to maximize their potential, likely emphasizing strategic and thoughtful adoption over reactive use.
Navigating Industry Challenges: In posts like “A perspective on the recent massive tech layoffs” (late 2022), Sperb provides analysis of significant industry trends, offering a leadership perspective on economic and organizational challenges. This reflects a message of resilience and strategic thinking during turbulent times.
Community and Lifelong Learning: The publication is framed as a platform for a lifelong learner to share knowledge and foster a community around leadership in knowledge work. Sperb’s approach is collaborative, aiming to engage readers in reflective discussions about leadership and its broader implications.
I can “dig in it”... I can see myself largely expressed in there, it is a fair summary of what I try to do here…
Although a lot of that is in retrospect, since what I really do here, on an ongoing basis is the idea of “thinking out loud”.
Then it also spitted out this nice gem:
Overall, the key message is that effective leadership in modern contexts requires a blend of conceptual clarity, continuous learning, and strategic adaptation to technological and industry changes, all grounded in a community-oriented, reflective practice.
I got triggered by that idea of reflective practice, because it resonates a lot… So I asked to further elaborate on it, and this was the response:
Sperb’s approach to reflective thinking and practice is characterized by:
Intentionality: He deliberately engages with ideas, whether through curating insights or analyzing trends, to inform leadership.
Systematic Processing: Reflection is structured (e.g., weekly insights, conceptual frameworks) to make it a consistent habit rather than an ad-hoc activity.
Action-Oriented Outcomes: Reflection is tied to practical leadership challenges, ensuring it translates into better decisions and strategies.
Collaborative Learning: Reflection is shared with a community, fostering collective growth and dialogue.
Those are fine 4 bullet points, which again, not only resonate with me, but I can see how I would attempt to describe myself largey around those ideas. Quite happy with that.
I went on for my final move and asked if it could take a stab at generating an elevator pitch of sorts for people to read and subscribe, and this what it came up with:
Elevate your leadership with The Conceptual Leader by Rodrigo Sperb on Substack! Discover concise, reflective insights that fuse conceptual thinking with practical strategies for thriving in knowledge work and tech-driven environments. Sperb’s weekly doses of wisdom, inspired by deep thinkers, empower lifelong learners to navigate complexity with clarity and purpose. Join a dynamic community of leaders and transform your approach—subscribe now!
Again, quite happy with that. Would I consider using it? Maybe to get some inspiration on how to spin a couple of things up here and there, and how to articulate it… Have I changed my mind on adopting it for a possible larger use to write this up?!
Not quite… I’m sticking to my principle. This is about my voice, and I want it to be ALWAYS authentic, just like you’d be talking to me.
By the way, that is something I picked up on as well: I believe part of what the tool describes as “reflective practice” is what I like to call “thinking out loud”. I want readers to never lose that perspective and human touch – as I personally value that a lot.
I hope you do too!
In any case, I am curious to hear your insights on it, should you care to share in comments or any other suyitable way (e.g., direct message via LinkedIn). And I hope my way keeps resonating with people!
It should go without saying – but thanks for reading (and subscribing).
By Rodrigo Sperb, feel free to connect, I'm happy to engage and interact. I’m passionate about leading to achieve better outcomes with better ways of working. How can I help you?