I am a huge How to Train Your Dragon Fan. Not just because my husband loves animated movies and has bought me all the dragon stuffed animals that have been created from the original movies. But also, because dragons are amazing! And at the same time, they can seem scary.  But when you try to get along with them, they can be your best friend!

AI can feel a little dragon-like at first. There are fears it could take over your jobs. Heck, I see stuff all the time that says AI can coach you…blah blah blah, pfttt – not like a real experienced coach *cough* but I digress. The reality is we can harness the power of AI just like Hiccup trained Toothless to be his trusty sidekick.

So saddle up, OSCs! Because it’s time to turn that unruly tech beast into your own loyal, customer-savvy companion that sounds just like you.

Step 1: Know Thyself (Before You Train Thy AI) <- Yeah…that was AI saying that…

You can’t train your AI to be “you” if you don’t know who you are. (Deep, right?)

Start by identifying:

• Your tone: Are you casual and witty? Professional and concise? Warm and nurturing?
• Your common phrases: What little sayings or greetings do you use that make your communication feel “you”?
• Your core knowledge: What’s the insider info you always share with buyers – like process tips, builder timelines, or loan insights?

I give ideas in training all the time on how OSCs can communicate certain ideas. But I tell them, make it their own. Make it sound like them. You are doing the same thing with your AI tools. You need it to sound like you.

Pro Tip: Write like you talk! AI learns best from real-life examples. If you wouldn’t say “Dear Esteemed Homebuyer,” in real life… don’t let your AI say it either.

Step 2: Feed the Beast (With the Right Inputs)

Just like Hiccup didn’t train Toothless on an empty stomach, your AI needs to be fed – with information only you can provide.

Start training by giving your AI:

• Your email templates
• Your FAQs and answers
• Your CRM notes and process docs
• Voice memos or recordings of you responding to leads

The more examples you give, the more your AI will start to understand your voice, tone, and timing.

Pro Tip: Think of it like giving your AI the OSC version of dragon treats – the more it gets, the more it loves you (and responds like you).

Step 3: Refine the Voice – Don’t Let It Sound Like a Robot

AI can be incredibly smart. But let’s be real… it can also sound like a stuffy British butler if you’re not careful.

To make your AI sound like you, teach it:

• Emojis you use (Though use them sparingly)
• When to say, “Hey there!” vs. “Hi [First Name],”
• How you close out emails (Sincerely? Thanks so much? Let’s chat soon?)
• Where you add humor
• When to not be overly formal (we’re in new home sales, not law school)

Try brain dumping your ideas in your voice to the AI and then tell it who you are. That you want it to sound professional but approachable. Let it know when it can be a little quirky, straight forward, and concise.  Play around with it. And if it doesn’t spit out something that sounds like you, then tell it to try again and give it more feedback on who you are.

Pro Tip: Say it out loud. If it doesn’t sound like something you’d say on the phone or in person, tweak it!

Step 4: Teach It to Think Like You – Process, Priorities, People

This is where it gets real.

You want your AI assistant to:

• Know the process from lead to appointment
• Understand what’s important to different types of buyers
• Spot red flags in conversations (Is this a tire kicker? A relocation lead? A ready-now buyer?)

That means explaining your why behind your responses. For example:

“When a buyer says they’re just starting their home search, I ask tell me more about what’s motivating your eventual move.”

This trains the AI not just to reply – but to think like an OSC.

Pro Tip: The goal isn’t for your AI to just send info – it’s to be your digital twin. And your twin has to know what you know.

Step 5: Test It, Break It, Train It Again

Just like Toothless didn’t fly perfectly the first time (remember that crash landing?), your AI won’t nail your tone and timing on Day 1.

So test it out:

• Have it write responses to common buyer questions
• Then correct it with your tone and how you’d answer the same question
• Let it help draft email follow-ups
• See how it handles a “cold lead re-engagement” campaign

Then – and here’s the magic – edit its work. Your edits become new training data.

Pro Tip:  Every tweak you make teaches your AI what you do and don’t like. Don’t skip this step – it’s the secret sauce!

Step 6: Let It Fly… But Stay in the Saddle

Even once your AI is dialed in, remember: it’s your assistant, not your replacement.

• Use it to save time, not skip strategy
• Let it enhance your voice, not erase it
• Check its work before it goes out (especially with hot leads)

Pro Tip: You’re still the dragon rider. Your AI is just the wings.

From Fire-Breather to Lead-Nurturer

Training your AI is a lot like training a dragon.

It takes patience.
It takes empathy.
It takes a few singed eyebrows along the way.

But with the right inputs, a sense of humor, and a little OSC magic, your AI can become the ultimate extension of your brain, your brand, and your buyer experience.

So go on – grab the reins, feed it your brilliance, and make your AI roar with your voice.

Because no one else can sell homes like you – not even a robot.