• Prompt for a rough first draft: Give AI the award question + your bullet-pointed info and ask: “Draft a 250-word award entry answer based on these facts. Use an enthusiastic, confident, converstaional and human tone without sounding robotic or formal.” 
• Stay specific: The better your input, the better your output. Tell AI: Who your audience is – Stevie Award judges, not random customers. What tone you want – not stiff or salesy. 
• What style you want – story-driven, fact-backed.

Put your voice into AI content

• Cut out generic phrases like “in the ever-evolving business landscape…” (Classic AI waffle.) 
• Rewrite sentences in your natural speaking style. 
• Add contractions (“we’ve”, “we’re”, “it’s”) — AI usually forgets them. ● Swap formal verbs for punchier ones (AI says “implemented,” you say “built,” “launched,” “created”). 
• Inject real feeling: AI loves facts. Humans love facts + emotion. Make sure you add a human beat: “It wasn’t easy because of the ….. But it was worth it because we helped…..” “We saw that no one was addressing this ….. We created … and this happened ….” 
• Drop in micro-stories or specific moments: If AI gives you a flat achievement like: “The business grew 50% in 2023.” Write “We grew 50% in 2023, a year that nearly broke our industry. Here’s how we pulled it off.” 
• Use your voice. If you have a quirk (funny sayings, favourite analogies, a style of describing things), weave that in: “Like duck frantically paddling underwater, despite the challenges from …. the new service launched in 2024 with over 60 people signing up in the first 24 hours.”

Common AI tells to watch out for

• Repeating the question in the answer. 
• Over-explaining simple facts – “Customer service is an essential part of any successful business.” 
• Sentences are the same length. Mix it up for impact. 
• Vague claims without proof – “We achieved remarkable success” or “We are leaders in our field” or “We made a huge impact.” Always pair a claim with a fact. “We became industry leaders by doubling market share in 18 months.” or “Our customer retention rate jumped to 92% after implementing X.” 
• Overuse of buzzwords – synergy, empower, dynamic landscape. ● Vanilla and beige sentences that sounds wonderful but say nothing. ● Over-politeness and formality – Stiff, over-courteous intros and closings: “It is with great humility that we present…” or “We respectfully submit our accomplishments for your esteemed consideration.” 

• Generic corporate phrasing. Phrases like: “In the dynamic business landscape…” or “Our innovative solutions have revolutionised the industry…” or “We empower stakeholders to drive impactful change.” “In today’s rapidly changing technological environment, businesses must stay ahead by embracing innovation.“

Say what you did. Say why it matters. Say it like you’re talking to someone smart at a networking event, not pitching at a TED Talk. 

• Too many connector phrases – Furthermore, moreover, in addition, consequently, thus. Nobody talks like that. 
• Filler words – “It is important to note that…” “We strive to…” “Our aim is to...” ● Big word syndrome – AI loves unnecessarily big words: Utilise instead of use. Commence instead of start. Facilitate instead of help. Ascertain instead of find out. 
• Fake passion words – like passionate, committed, dedicated show up with no substance behind them. “We are passionate about empowering women.” Instead, prove your passion. What did you DO because of that passion? How many women did you empower? How? When? Where? In other words, show it don’t just say it. 
• Chronological snooze fest – AI loves boring transitions: In 2023, we did A. In 2024, we did B. In 2025, we did C. 
• Overly balanced sentences – AI will try to balance sentences neatly: “Not only did we launch a new platform, but we also increased customer satisfaction.” 
• Meaningless adverbs and intensifiers – like: Very successfully. Highly impactful. Exceptionally innovative. 
• False cohesive echo chamber – like: Paragraph 1: “Our dynamic growth…” Paragraph 2: “This dynamic period…” Paragraph 3: “The dynamic landscape…”
• Weird transitions between paragraphs – linking ideas that don’t actually belong together: “In addition to launching new products, our commitment to community service remained unwavering.” 
• One size fits all inspirational cliches – things like: Dreams turned into reality. Proving that anything is possible. An inspiring journey of resilience and determination. 
• Symmetrical sentences – neat mirrored sentences that don’t sound like how people talk: “Our commitment to customers is matched only by our dedication to innovation.” 
• Passive voice – “New initiatives were launched to improve customer experience.” AI often defaults to passive because it’s safe and neutral. You don’t want safe and neutral. Make it active. “We launched our new app to database of 1000 people to help with NDIS planning online, and 70% of our clients said…” But make sure your add facts and proof. 
• Word salad sentences – “By leveraging cutting-edge paradigms and maximising cross-functional synergies, we were able to enhance deliverables across a multitude of touchpoints.” Strip it back to what you actually did. 
• Over-confidence. No proof – “Our company revolutionised the industry.” Now, prove it. 

Always ask – would a real human being ever actually say this out loud to another human, without laughing or feeling awkward? 

• Feed AI small pieces at a time. 
• Never trust a first draft. Always humanise it and put your spin on it after.
• Talk to AI like a smart intern. AI isn’t your boss.