Active Listening and Critical Thinking: Key Mindsets for Leveraging AI

In preparing for my interview with Liana Ling, CEO of AdSkills, I used ChatGPT for brainstorming questions and lighthearted comments. This experience highlighted how AI can enhance our communication when we provide clear context.

Sam Altman states, ‘The programming language of 2024 is English,’ highlighting the importance of clear communication over technical skills. This shift in focus opens up new opportunities for VAs and business professionals.

While many fear AI might replace virtual assistants, the real change lies in how VAs will evolve. Thinking clearly and practicing active listening will become even more crucial as VAs transition from task-doers to decision-makers, working alongside AI as partners, not competitors.

Often, virtual assistants find themselves performing repetitive tasks, akin to characters in Westworld, missing the significance of active listening to AI. The advantage comes from asking critical questions and engaging in meaningful dialogue. This requires both active listening and critical thinking.

In the early days of search engines, AI struggled with context. For instance, searching for “New York pizza” could yield unclear results. Today, AI has advanced, and success relies more on communication than on technical knowledge.

Discussions with AI experts like Jeremiah Owyang and Robert Scoble reveal that successful individuals prioritize active listening and critical thinking, moving beyond a focus on technical details.

In my podcast conversation with Liana, I actively processed her words, asking myself, “What do I think about what Liana just said?” Rather than debating, I explored how her perspective aligned with or challenged my worldview. I actively connected her ideas to my understanding, much like building with Legos, deciding whether to accept, reject, or adapt my views based on new information.

This back-and-forth dialogue, rooted in critical thinking, is where true skill resides. While some may label it creativity, I see it as the capacity to engage in meaningful and thoughtful conversations. 

Liana emphasized the importance of understanding how to interact with AI effectively. Different inputs can yield varied results, similar to selecting different VAs. While having SOPs for VAs is beneficial, maintaining an open dialogue with AI is crucial for desired outcomes.

Here are key takeaways from our discussions on using AI and how VAs or anyone—regardless of their experience—can benefit from it:

Key Strategies for Best Using ChatGPT:

Start Small:

Beginners should start with user-friendly platforms like Bing Chat before diving into more complex AI tools like ChatGPT.

Engage with simple, fun tasks (e.g., rewriting an email in a “cowboy voice”) to build confidence and reduce fear.

AI as a Team Member:

Treat ChatGPT as an assistant with vast potential and an important part of the team. ChatGPT-4 offers a more refined experience compared to ChatGPT-3, which feels more like an inexperienced intern.

Clarity in Communication:

Clearly define what you want when interacting with AI. The more specific and clear your instructions, the better the results.

For example, if you’re a Fiverr VA looking to optimize your profile and land more jobs, don’t just ask for ‘profile suggestions’. Please provide details about its current state, the specific sections you want to improve, and the feedback you want.

Example prompts include:

“How do I get more clients on Fiverr for my SEO services? I target home service businesses and want to be paid at least $500 for my services”

Harnessing Critical Thinking and Creativity with AI:

Critical thinking drives the effective use of AI, with creativity playing a supportive role. It’s not just about imaginative prompts, but about asking the right questions, analyzing responses, and refining the output.

Example prompts include:

“Can you review my blog post and provide a critical assessment of its structure? I want to eliminate unnecessary information and make it more clear and concise. Please suggest specific areas to cut or revise for better clarity.”

Engage in Dialogue:

Memorizing prompts is unnecessary. Approach ChatGPT like you would when talking to a human. If you’re unsure how to proceed, ask AI for guidance. Maintaining a continuous dialogue with AI enhances its output quality.

Example prompts include:

“How can I best use you to write my keynote speech?”

“How can I best use to write a table of contents for my book?”

Request AI’s Output Multiple Times:

Request multiple outputs from AI to get varied results. If you’re dissatisfied, rephrase questions or ask for more innovative content.

Example prompts include:

“Can you please rewrite?”

“Give me another list that is innovative.”

“Show me something that hasn’t been used before.”

Let AI Know its Role:

Clearly define what role AI should assume (e.g., expert copywriter, content writer) to tailor its responses effectively.

Use prompts that encourage AI to adopt various writing styles or personas (like Robert Collier, Perry Belcher, or Alex Berman), allowing you to discover which resonates best with your audience.

Example prompts include:

Act as a direct response copywriter specializing in-home services. Write a sales email promoting a special offer for pressure washing services targeting homeowners in Boca Raton.”

Act as a cold email expert like Alex Berman and write a highly personalized cold email targeting CEOs of SaaS companies offering a solution to improve their customer onboarding process.”

“Take the role of a content writer and create an FAQ section for All About Pressure Washing’s website, focusing on common homeowner questions about pressure washing and sealing driveways.”

This approach transforms AI into a powerful partner for achieving your goals.

Anyone focused solely on technical mastery misses the larger picture. The key to success with AI today is connecting, communicating clearly, and thinking critically. These skills will define the winners in this evolving landscape.

Dennis Yu
Dennis Yu
Dennis Yu is co-author of the #1 best-selling book on Amazon in social media, The Definitive Guide to TikTok Ads.  He has spent a billion dollars on Facebook ads across his agencies and agencies he advises. Mr. Yu is the "million jobs" guy-- on a mission to create one million jobs via hands-on social media training, partnering with universities and professional organizations.You can find him quoted in major publications and on television such as CNN, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, NPR, and LA Times. Clients have included Nike, Red Bull, the Golden State Warriors, Ashley Furniture, Quiznos-- down to local service businesses like real estate agents and dentists. He's spoken at over 750 conferences in 20 countries, having flown over 6 million miles in the last 30 years to train up young adults and business owners. He speaks for free as long as the organization believes in the job-creation mission and covers business class travel.You can find him hiking tall mountains, eating chicken wings, and taking Kaqun oxygen baths-- likely in a city near you.