I recently attended a leadership development conference, and every session that mentioned AI was packed—often overflowing. AI is everywhere; it’s the hot topic, and everyone is trying to make sense of what it really means. What surprised me most, however, was how many attendees admitted they were not embracing AI, either in their individual work or at the business level. If you’re in that camp, now is the time to start.
AI Is Everywhere—Are You Keeping Up?
To be clear, AI isn’t just a passing tech trend. It’s a fundamental shift in how businesses operate. Some have even compared its impact to the industrial revolution. From automation to data-driven insights, AI has the potential to enhance decision-making, optimize processes, and unlock new opportunities.
Futurists predict that leaders will manage blended teams of AI-driven digital agents and human employees. Keeping up with AI’s rapid revolution can feel overwhelming, especially as new questions around ethics, future applications, and business impact emerge daily.
The real question is: How can we, as leaders, stay ahead and prepare for what’s next?
Level 1: Build AI Literacy and Fluency
The first step is understanding AI’s capabilities and limitations. Leaders don’t need to become data scientists, but they do need a solid grasp of how to best leverage and interact with AI. Experimenting with AI tools in daily workflows is a great way to develop familiarity.
If you’re new to AI, consider taking Ethan Mollick’s advice from his piece “Thinking Like an AI”: “just use AI to do stuff that you do for work or fun, for about 10 hours, and you will figure out a remarkable amount.” That’s one hour a day in the flow of work for the next two weeks—easy! I’ve heard stories of people using Generative AI to write their children custom bedtime stories with their name and interests, plan trips and build itineraries, and take a first pass at drafting an email. If you are stuck, you could ask GenAI:
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“How can I use AI to improve my productivity at work?”
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"What are practical ways to integrate AI into my daily workflow?"
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"How can AI help me make better business decisions?"
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"How can AI assist with brainstorming, problem-solving, and strategic planning?"
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"What skills do I need to develop to effectively collaborate with AI?"
By starting small, leaders can gain confidence in using AI and begin to see how it fits into their daily work.
Level 2: Enhancing Processes With AI—Practical Use Cases
To leverage AI effectively, start by breaking down work processes and identifying where it can add value. AI can be a powerful collaborator in several high-impact areas. Think of these as stepping stones to building AI literacy:
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Meeting notes: AI can transcribe, summarize, and highlight key action items, ensuring nothing gets lost in translation.
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Try this: “Summarize this meeting transcript in three bullet points.”
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First drafts of products: Whether it’s a report, presentation, or email, AI can generate initial drafts, which can save time and provide a starting point for refinement.
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Try this: “Generate a first draft of a client proposal using this template and these key points.”
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Making sense of your thoughts: If you tend to ramble, AI can structure your ideas into clear, concise messages.
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Try this: “Condense this long email into a client-focused summary.”
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Thought partnership: AI can analyze scenarios, outline concerns, and provide alternative approaches to support brainstorming.
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Try this: “Act as a Harvard Business School-educated CEO. Given [your specific business strategy here], name three ways to strengthen or optimize it.”
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Coaching support: AI can offer feedback, creating a nonjudgmental space for self-reflection.
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Try this: “Give me constructive feedback on how I explained this concept.”
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Summarizing trends and insights: AI can quickly synthesize information, either summarizing provided content or scanning the web for relevant insights.
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Try this: “Summarize the key trends in leadership development from the past year and their potential impact on our industry.”
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Focusing on business outcomes: AI shouldn’t be used just for the sake of it. Leaders must align its use with real business value.
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Try this: “Help me align this initiative with our key business goals.”
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AI Is a Competitive Advantage—Are You Using It?
What’s clear is that these use cases are just the beginning. AI has the potential to streamline work and enhance outcomes for leaders at all levels.
Your peers are already using AI to gain insights, inform decisions, and communicate more effectively. If you’re not exploring how AI can improve your work, your peers—and your competitors—will eventually surpass you.
You’re not still using a fax machine. You’re not relying on speakerphones for conference calls. Your work isn’t stored in file folders in a cabinet. Just as past innovations reshaped the way we work, AI is redefining what’s possible. The question isn’t whether AI will be part of your workflow—it’s how you’ll use it to stay ahead.
Coming Up Next: The Strategic Side of AI
AI is a powerful tool, but it’s not a magic fix. In our next post—coming tomorrow—we’ll discuss where AI falls short and the critical leadership skills that remain uniquely human. We’ll also explore how leaders can integrate AI responsibly while ensuring governance, ethical considerations, and customer trust.
