𝗥𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲: 𝗺𝘆 𝟱 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗲𝗻 𝗭 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸

𝗥𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲: 𝗺𝘆 𝟱 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗲𝗻 𝗭 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸

"They’re great with technology, but can they handle constructive criticism without taking it personally?" 

"They want purpose in their work, but do they understand the value of paying their dues first?" 

"They bring fresh ideas, but will they stick around long enough to see them through?" 

"They’re ambitious and vocal, but sometimes it feels like they skip the ‘hard work’ part of success."  

Sound familiar? These are some of the hard questions many employers are asking about Gen Z employees, often for good reason. (Generation Z, or Gen Z, is the demographic of people born between the late 1990s and early 2010s.)

Although not something any employer wants to admit openly, it's no secret for hiring managers that young entry level employees can be very difficult to work with. Roughly 60 percent of American companies have cut Gen-Z employees they hired this year, according to education and career advisory platform Intelligent.

For every Gen Z worker who may be irresponsible, entitled or rude there is another who is amazing. But being amazing to work with takes humility and effort, it doesn't happen by itself.

Here’s the twist: while Gen Z faces these stereotypes, 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 because they recognize Gen Z workers do have qualities that can make them a driving force for change in the workplace. 

For Gen Z workers, success doesn’t just mean showing up—it means embracing growth, using technology to their advantage, and seeking a sense of purpose. For employers, understanding how to engage and nurture this generation is key to unlocking their potential and ensuring long-term success, but employees have to do their part to work hard

Here's the thing: both groups have needs that not only make sense, but can work together. 

Here are 𝗺𝘆 𝟱 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗚𝗲𝗻 𝗭 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲—and help employers realize just how valuable they can be!:

1️⃣ 𝗘𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 

Success demands growth. Gen Z workers should always seek new opportunities to learn—whether through online courses, certifications, or mentorship. Employers value those who show initiative and a commitment to improvement.  

👉🏽 𝗣𝗿𝗼 𝘁𝗶𝗽: Regularly ask, “How can I improve?” to show you’re focused on development.  

2️⃣ 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆

Gen Z is tech-savvy, which is a huge advantage. Using productivity tools and staying current with tech trends can increase efficiency and collaboration. But don't forget to balance tech with essential interpersonal skills like communication and teamwork. Do not use technology, including social media, to air your complaints every time you disagree with others at work.

👉🏽 𝗣𝗿𝗼 𝘁𝗶𝗽: Help colleagues with new tools and streamline processes—showing expertise while building trust. 

3️⃣ 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹-𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴

Gen Z values balance and self-care. Set boundaries to prioritize your mental health, and find employers who offer resources to support it. Resilience is key, as workplace challenges will always arise. A lot of stress can be managed simply by following directions the first time. Also, some kinds of stress are helpful. Being late to work, for example, should lead to stress. It can be easily prevented by taking deadlines and schedules seriously. Being late is never ok, unless it's an emergency.

👉🏽 𝗣𝗿𝗼 𝘁𝗶𝗽: Balance self-care with meeting deadlines and staying productive to show reliability and maturity.  

4️⃣ 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 

Networking and building relationships are essential for career growth. Gen Z should engage with colleagues, seek feedback, and foster collaboration. Strong connections open doors for future opportunities. Understand that people who have worked longer deserve your respect and can be a valuable source of knowledge and wisdom

👉🏽 𝗣𝗿𝗼 𝘁𝗶𝗽: Be genuinely interested in others—your positive attitude can lead to professional advancement.  

5️⃣ 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴

Many Gen Z workers seek roles that align with their values. While not every job will feel like a perfect fit at first, focus on making a positive impact and building your skills. Purpose comes with time and dedication.  

👉🏽 𝗣𝗿𝗼 𝘁𝗶𝗽: Show dedication and persistence to align your career with your personal values.  

---

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 

Employers are looking for resilience, adaptability, and growth—not just hard skills. Gen Z has the potential to redefine workplace expectations, but won't without human skills. By embracing continuous learning, leveraging technology, prioritizing well-being, building relationships, and seeking purpose, they can rise above stereotypes and prove their value.  

The battle for your nose (and wallet): getting your fragrance game on point for work and beyond!

𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝟯𝟬% 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆?

For a frag head like me, that stat never fails to surprise. Whether we’re closing deals in the boardroom, working hard on a construction site, or enjoying a weekend getaway, how we smell speaks volumes about who we are. 

From my childhood, fragrances have always been such a personal, powerful and important form of expression. I started with Davidoff Cool Water entering high school and over the years built up a respectable collection of designer and clone fragrances. I'm not joking, if I leave home without wearing perfume I feel like I went out wearing one sock!

Anyway, I digress. 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲. It's not just about smelling good to others—more importantly, it's about how the scent makes 𝘺𝘰𝘶 feel. The right fragrance can boost your confidence and add to your personality, literally a breath of fresh air.

But how do you navigate the world of fragrance, especially when the options seem endless? 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝘃𝘀. 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝘃𝘀. 𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲—the options can feel overwhelming. 

Here's my guide to help you find what fragrances works best for 𝘺𝘰𝘶, no matter your budget or style.

1️⃣ 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹—𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹

The most important rule: 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹. While some scents are crowd-pleasers, it’s essential to choose what resonates with 𝘺𝘰𝘶 first and foremost. 

There are four major classes of fragrances (floral, woody, amber and fresh), and they can be further divided into sub-types (for example, fruity fragrances fall under floral). Many fragrances have overlapping characteristics and cannot be put in just one box. For example, 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝘀 (for men) is a legendary, popular choice, with its bold pineapple and smoky birch notes that feel powerful and sophisticated. 

Creed Aventus 

(While I'm not one to throw shade on any fragrance, I have to say Aventus is a victim of its success. It has been copied so often that to people like me there is nothing especially interesting about it, especially because the maker has reformulated it. It is also extremely expensive, which to me is an important consideration. End of rant.) 

Fragrances come in different concentrations of perfume oils, from highest to lowest, with the higher concentrations performing longest, and the lowest concentrations often projecting more but fading away more quickly (these are not hard and fast rules, just a generalization):

• Parfum – 20-40%
• Eau de Parfum – 15-20%
• Eau de Toilette – 5-15%
• Eau de Cologne – 2-5%
• Eau Fraîche – 1-3%

So where to apply your fragrance? On skin pulse points are best because the heat there gently activates most fragrances to perform better. Think in the crooks of your arms, on the neck, behind the ears, on your wrists and behind the knees. Do not spray in the air and walk through it, that's just a waste of perfectly good perfume. (Read this indepth article on Yahoo to learn more about how much perfume to apply.)

To make your fragrance last much longer, consider spraying on clothes, but be careful of staining. To check if your perfume could leave stains, simply spray a white paper towel with your fragrance and observe if there is any apparent color left behind.

If you feel unsure about what concentration of perfume to get, the best thing you can do is visit a fragrance boutique and talk to the people there about what you like and try on fragrances. If you don't know what you like, they will be glad to help you find something, as well as suggest how much to spray and where you should do it. 

Remember, you shouldn't necessarily buy at retail stores. More on that later.

2️⃣ 𝗚𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴

Gourmand fragrances with their dessert-like scents, have become incredibly popular in the last two

Lattafa Khamra

years. They are not always trying to smell like food, but definitely they take inspiration from edibles. Think sweet, comforting fragrances like 𝗧𝗼𝗺 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗧𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼 𝗩𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲 (for men), 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗔𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗱 𝗕𝗿𝘂𝗻 (for men), 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗮 𝗞𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗿𝗮𝗵 (unisex), or 𝗫𝗲𝗿𝗷𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶 (for women). These are perfect for colder months when you want something cozy and warm, but these are not necessarily the best in a conservative office environment. But if you can rock it, then you do you.

Balance is key, in warmer weather you will want to wear lighter scents. For example 𝗝𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗴𝗲 & 𝗦𝗲𝗮 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝘁 (unisex), 𝗔𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗳 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯 𝗱𝗲 𝗡𝘂𝗶𝘁 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 (unisex), or 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗺𝘀 𝗱𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗟𝗮𝘆𝘁𝗼𝗻 (for men) which work better for professional settings. Fruity fragrances are very popular now, and anything with citrus notes of lemon, bergamot or grapefruit is probably going to work. 

3️⃣ 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀: 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀?

Middle Eastern and Asian fragrances have been sought after and prized by collectors for thousands of years, not least because of oud, which has gone from once being an ingredient in oriental fragrances only to now being a centrepiece in fragrances produced around the world. Once a challenging scent that was an acquired taste for those unaccustomed to it, oud has a strong animalic quality that is useful in making fragrances last longer and perform more loudly. Real oud is fantastically expensive and rich, as much for its rarity as it's incredibly complex extraction process. Synthetic oud materials are common enough that you can enjoy without breaking the bank, although for those who know, synthetics pale in comparison to the real thing.

(Interested in knowing more about oud? Watch this documentary all about it.)

But there is something else now happening that has completely turned the fragrance community upside down. 

What is it? Clones.

Armaf Club de Nuit Intense Parfum, one of the most hyped clones of Creed Aventus 

Why? Right now 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 such as 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗮, 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 and 𝗔𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗳 are all the rage, even though you're not likely to see them in traditional big brick and mortar stores. They offer fragrances that mimic luxury designer scents, often at a fraction of the price. Are they the same level quality as the originals? Not usually, although it can happen that some are even better than the original! However, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝟴𝟬-𝟵𝟬% 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲. Not only that, but the clone brands are rapidly improving with each new fragrance they release. In some cases they are cloning once-loved, now discontinued or reformulated fragrances.

I can easily recommend clones as a great option if you’re looking to try something before wearing the original, especially if it is expensive. Anything with a luxury price tag can be a big decision, I get that. Personally, I think most people will simply not be able to smell the difference between many originals and their clones. 

Keep in mind that not all Middle Eastern brands are trying to make copycat fragrances. If you have the cash, on the luxury side, 𝗔𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲 and 𝗔𝗯𝗱𝘂𝗹 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗱 𝗔𝗹 𝗤𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶 (varied options) offer high-end and unique fragrances that are rich, complex, and perfect for special occasions, and they will definitely get you noticed for all the right reasons, including at work, but here's a piece of advice: don't use heavy oud scents, those are still divisive with many people.

You want to wear your fragrance, not have the fragrance wear you. 

4️⃣ 𝗟𝘂𝘅𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸

Luxury doesn’t always have to be out of reach. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗕𝗹𝗲𝘂 𝗱𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹 (for men) or 𝗚𝘂𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝘂𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻 (for women) are classics that offer great value for their quality. They fall within the $100–$150 range, making them attainable for many. If you’re looking for something on the higher end, 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗺𝘀 𝗱𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗟𝗮𝘆𝘁𝗼𝗻 (for men) or 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗲 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 (unisex) are timeless choices with prices starting around $250 and going up. Don’t forget: sometimes fragrance pricing is tied to branding rather than the actual ingredients.

5️⃣ 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲

Fragrance deals don’t have to be elusive. 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗫, 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗡𝗲𝘁, 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝗼𝗺𝗮 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗽 are great places to score discounts on both designer and dupe fragrances. You can find high-quality fragrances of every type from France and Dubai, usually at a fraction of what you would pay at retail. I say usually because there are boutiques who might give you a better deal. Remember to factor amount of perfume, shipping and taxes when comparing prices.

6️⃣ 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 

Influencers I like, including 𝗕𝗼𝘄 𝗧𝗶𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲
𝗚𝘂𝘆, 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀, 𝗖𝘂𝗯𝗮 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄, 𝗚𝗹𝗮𝗺 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗿. 𝗦𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘆, often share detailed fragrance reviews. They can offer interesting info about new perfumes that have not yet hit stores or the online 

Bow Tie Fragrance Guy on YouTube 

discounters. Keep in mind that some influencers may have brand partnerships or at least certain biases; these are subjective analyses after all, so consider cross-referencing reviews. Websites like 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮 and 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗺𝗼 can provide extensive user reviews, giving you a broader perspective on the longevity and performance of different fragrances.

7️⃣ 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗰𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻

Fragrance is about the right fit for the moment. 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 scents like 𝗥𝗮𝘀𝗮𝘀𝗶 𝗛𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘀 (the original, Ice or Black, all for men) work well in warmer weather or professional settings, while 𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽 fragrances like 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼 (for men) or 𝗖𝗵𝗹𝗼𝗲 𝗘𝗮𝘂 𝗱𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗺 (for women) are suited for cooler months or evening events. Start by building a versatile collection and then adding more specialized fragrances after. Remember, you don't need to break the bank to smell good!

𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲. Whether you’re looking for something unique or sticking to a more widely-loved scent, the right fragrance can boost your confidence and make a lasting impression. Take your time exploring and experimenting until you find the scent that speaks to you.

#FragranceCommunity #ScentOfSuccess #FragranceAddict #PerfumeLover #FragranceJourney #LuxuryFragrance #FragranceTips #PerfumeCommunity #FragranceKnowledge

6 AI quirks that give it away as being artificial

(LinkedIn post on Sat, Dec 7, 2024) 

Last night I squared off as a #gladiator against my foe while hundreds chanted my name (Ali! Ali! ALI!).

Ok, ok, so there was no battle. There wasn't even a fight—just a strongly worded debate on Facebook about whether or not a piece of writing was written by #AI. 

It all started when I said I was sick of overuse of AI replacing excellent human driven communication, specifically writing.

Dear reader, I kid you not, I was shocked that my quick critique got 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘴 of likes and comments. As 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘀, we often spot and worry over consequences of unrestricted robot writing, so it felt extremely gratifying to see the majority of people agreed.

However, not everyone agreed. One indignant commenter insisted I was wrong—that the article was NOT written by AI and her mind was made up. She didn't even give reasons, she just said everyone who agreed with me was wrong.

You can't please everyone, but I decided I would do something about it here on LinkedIn.

Debating whether something was written by AI or a human can get heated, but the truth is, 𝗔𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆.  

Ever read something and thought, “𝗡𝗼 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀”? You’re probably right. AI writing is everywhere now, and while it CAN be impressive, it often feels like getting a birthday card from someone who forgot your name—polished but empty.  

Here are 6 ways how I spot the signs I'm reading AI produced text—not to call anyone out, but to better understand what separates 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆:  

1️⃣ 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗵𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴

AI often repeats patterns like “It is important to note...” or “One key factor is...,” while humans tend to 𝘃𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 naturally.  

2️⃣ 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀

Terms like "indeed," "furthermore," or "moreover" might appear 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆, especially in casual contexts.  

3️⃣ 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿-𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆

AI leans 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹, even when casual language is better. For example, it might write “This warrants further exploration” instead of “That’s worth a look.”  

4️⃣ 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝘄𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿

AI avoids the 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 (like fragments or contractions) that humans naturally include.  

5️⃣ 𝗡𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲

AI often presents 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗹y, even on divisive issues, using phrases like “While some believe X, others argue Y.”  

6️⃣ 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀

AI avoids 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘀. It might say “a person walking in the park” rather than “Karen's walking spot in Central Park.”  

These clues aren’t definitive, but they can help identify AI-generated writing. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂? Are there other things that tip you off to robo writers? Let’s chat!

#WritingCommunity #ContentCreation #AIvsHuman #EditingTips #CommunicationsMatters #DigitalStorytelling #Creativity #CorporateCommunications #Communications

𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘁𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗰 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁? 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝟳 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗺, 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹! (4 min read)

 

LinkedIn post 

If you've ever dealt with a 𝘁𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗰 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲, you know the drill—like a mosquito buzzing in your ear during an important meeting, it’s frustrating and exhausting. 

Toxic behaviors, whether subtle or obvious, can 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆, 𝗱𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆, and even make you second-guess your career. But here’s the good news: 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹.

Handling toxic people is a 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹. Below, you’ll find seven way to deal with toxic behaviors. Because while you can’t choose your colleagues, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺—and that’s where your real power lies.

1️⃣ 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗕𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀  

👉🏽 Politely define what’s acceptable

👉🏽 Avoid overexplaining—boundaries don’t require justification  

𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: “Let’s focus on work-related topics.”  

2️⃣ 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻

👉🏽 Address actions, not character

👉🏽 Frame your feedback as a problem-solving opportunity

𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: “Missed deadlines affect the team’s progress.”  

3️⃣ 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀  

👉🏽 Record dates, times, and incidents

👉🏽 Keep documentation professional and objective

𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: Use details to support escalation if needed.  

4️⃣ 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹  

👉🏽 Manage your reactions

👉🏽 Avoid escalating the situation with defensive body language

𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: Pause and breathe before responding.  

5️⃣ 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸  

👉🏽 Talk to outside mentors, do not vent at work

👉🏽 Seek emotional support to maintain perspective

𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: “How would you handle this situation?”  

6️⃣ 𝗕𝗲 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗔𝗴𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲

👉🏽 Use “I feel” statements to express your feelings

👉🏽 Practice assertive phrases to build confidence

𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: “I feel undermined when I’m interrupted.”  

7️⃣ 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲

👉🏽 Step away and de-stress

👉🏽 Celebrate small wins to boost morale

𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: Have some water and take a walk during lunch break.

Toxic behaviors can make any workplace challenging, but with the right strategies, you can navigate these situations with 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 and 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗺. 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿, 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁—𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝘁.

#EmotionalIntelligence #LeadershipSkills #WorkplaceWellbeing #ProfessionalGrowth #ToxicWorkplace #CareerDevelopment #SelfCareAtWork #ConflictResolution #MarketingStrategy #BrandLeadership #CorporateCommunications

Your Employer Brand: The Secret Weapon for Winning Customers

Posted on LinkedIn on Dec 4, 2024

Your employer brand isn’t just for hiring—it’s for winning customers too! If your employees aren’t proud to represent your company, why should customers trust you? Build a brand customers can't ignore, 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵.  

In today’s competitive IT market (come to think of it, ALL markets) customers don’t just buy your product—they buy 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 in your team. If your employees are engaged, passionate and aligned with your mission, that energy radiates to customers. And here’s the kicker: small and medium-sized IT firms could have the upper hand. While the giants can be tied up in bureaucracy, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙚, 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙘, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡—𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙣𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚.  

So, how do you turn your employer brand into a customer magnet? Here are five practical tips:  

1️⃣ 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀  

Your employees are your best marketers. When they share authentic stories on LinkedIn or chat with clients about your work, it 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 in your brand. Help them take pride in their work and give reasonable incentives for converting dry figures and stats into engaging stories customers relate to. I cannot stress enough how such content must be honest/real.

2️⃣ 𝗣𝘂𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 

That said, numbers do matter. Showcase the real talent behind your services. Share case studies, thought leadership, or behind-the-scenes glimpses of your team 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘹 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘴. Customers want to see competence in action—not just a sales pitch.  

3️⃣ 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲—𝗡𝗼 𝗣𝗶𝗻𝗴-𝗣𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 

Forget Silicon Valley clichés. Highlight what truly makes your company unique: 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱, meaningful projects and a culture where everyone’s part of success. Have your leadership show their human and quirky side. It’s the little things that make a big difference!  

4️⃣ 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸

Share real stories, not jargon. Customers connect with how your team faces challenges and delivers results. Again, b𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯. Authenticity beats buzzwords every time.  

5️⃣ 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 

Encourage happy employees to leave Glassdoor reviews and clients to write testimonials. Prospective customers check these. Use them to build trust and showcase your team’s value.  

A strong employer brand does more than attract talent—it attracts customers. And for smaller IT firms, that's your edge. 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁—𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀—𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄.

#Hiring #TalentAcquisition #TechJobs #CareersInTech #Recruitment #JobSearch #HRTech #WorkCulture #AI