Why I Believe I Lost My LinkedIn Top Voice Badge (And Why It Reveals a Bigger Problem)
Maria: The Maschinenmensch – 'machine-human' in German; from Metropolis, 1927
A few weeks ago, LinkedIn informed me that I lost Top Voice designation. The email was vague. LinkedIn does not provide detailed explanations of how the designation is awarded or revoked. I have no issue with how they run their program.
I think I know what happened. Recent articles indicate that LinkedIn is cracking down on AI-generated content—and they should. LinkedIn likely used AI detection tools to flag my content as AI-generated. The irony runs deep: an algorithm decided my writing was too algorithmic.
I should be clear. I use AI. It is a powerful tool. What matters is how it is used. The ideas I publish are mine. AI helps me research, draft, and maintain consistency. I use it the same way I would use a human editor. I follow an extensive process to create my newsletters.
Stage One: Defining What A Style Guide Is For Me
I queried three AI platforms for definitions of what makes a good style guide.
All of the definitions focused on grammar, tone, structure, voice, and readability.
I leveraged my early-career experience at The Dallas Morning News. We use the AP style guide.
I merged the drafts to create a single prompt for use in Stage Two.
Stage Two: Creating My Personal Style Guide
I selected 12 newsletters that I published over the prior 18 months.
For each newsletter, using the Stage 1 prompt, I asked two AI tools to create a personal style guide. The result was 24 style guide drafts.
I asked both Ais to merge the drafts. I reviewed each and selected the merged draft I preferred. The result was a single draft guide for each newsletter – 12 files.
I took three drafts and asked both platforms to merge into a single draft. I selected the drafts I preferred. The result was four draft style guides.
I had AI merge two drafts into one. The result was two files.
I merged the final two drafts.
I made the final edit to the resulting draft.
As I worked with the guide, I revised the guide to improve my results. I am up to version 6.
Stage Three: Writing Newsletters
I select a topic and develop a detailed outline.
The outline for my previous newsletter, Leadership Lessons From The General Who Built An Army, was nearly 3 pages long.
The outline for this edition is just over 2 pages.
I ask AI to write a draft newsletter based on the style guide.
I put the various AI drafts side-by-side and copy/past from each of them to create my first draft.
I ask AI to review the draft.
I do two or three more editing reviews.
This is the final, published draft.
If my assumption is correct, LinkedIn's AI detection tools cannot distinguish between AI replacing human judgment and AI supporting it. Their pattern-matching algorithms flag writing that follows consistent style guidelines, regardless of where those guidelines came from. The system confuses consistency with inauthenticity.
This matters beyond my LinkedIn badge. Organizations everywhere face the same challenge. We want people to use AI without letting it replace the human judgment that creates real value.
The distinction matters because we're making similar mistakes in domains far more consequential than content badges. Companies use algorithms to screen job candidates, potentially filtering out exceptional people because they don't fit expected patterns. Healthcare systems deploy AI diagnostic tools without maintaining enough physician oversight to identify edge cases. Financial institutions automate lending decisions that can't account for borrowers' full circumstances.
Each case follows the same pattern: we substitute algorithmic efficiency for human judgment. Measuring short-term efficiency gains is quick and easy. Those gains may or may not result in long-term value.
Patterns teach the mind, judgment reads between the lines. We need both to see.
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Financial outlooks for 2026 are generally positive, but there are more uncertain variables to factor in than usual. (In my opinion.)
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Quotes
“You learn how little you know.”
James Baldwin
“An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.”
Benjamin Franklin
“Strive to find things to be thankful for.”
Bethany Hamilton
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Leadership is the most important work we do—in business and in life. I've spent over 40 years working with leaders across more than 100 companies, and I'm still learning. These newsletters share my thoughts on leadership today and what we can learn.
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