I have a confession… I can be a terrible leader at home.
Whenever we dive into a family project—whether it’s renovating the mudroom or splitting and stacking firewood—my wife and kids love to poke fun at my “leadership style.” You see, I usually have a well-thought-out plan… but the problem is, I keep it all in my head. Instead of explaining the full picture, I just give directions one step at a time. “Take this 2×4, place it over there…”
Sound familiar?
Not only does this frustrate my family, but it’s also wildly ineffective. They don’t understand the big picture or why we’re doing certain tasks in the first place. The result? We all end up pulling in different directions and progress slows to a crawl.
Believe it or not, working with AI can be surprisingly similar.
Leading AI: It’s More Than Just Commands
At work, I’ve realized that success with AI isn’t just about inputting commands and hoping for the best. Much like leading a team (or family), it’s about setting clear expectations, modeling successful outcomes, and offering feedback along the way. Simply put, AI needs leadership—just like people do.
Here’s what I’ve learned about leading AI effectively:
1. Treat AI Like a Team Member
You wouldn’t hire a new employee, give them only step-by-step instructions, and expect them to flourish, right? The same goes for AI. When you treat AI like a valuable part of your team—providing it with the big picture and guiding it toward strategic outcomes—you’ll see better results.
Leadership Tip: Start by clearly defining what success looks like. Whether it’s generating leads or optimizing your sales process, your AI should have a clear goal and be equipped with the necessary data and context to achieve it.
2. Set Clear Expectations and Define Success
In my “family project” fiascos, the main problem was a lack of communication about the big picture. The same principle applies to AI. If you’re only feeding it piecemeal instructions, you’re limiting its potential. Instead, take the time to set clear expectations. Provide examples of successful outputs, and let your AI know what an ideal outcome looks like.
Leadership Tip: If you’re using AI to enhance your sales process, for instance, explain the broader goal. Rather than asking it to generate a list of leads, specify that you want qualified leads who match your target buyer persona and fit the ICP (Ideal Customer Profile).
3. The Power of Iterative Feedback
AI doesn’t always get things right on the first try, and that’s okay—neither do people. What’s important is guiding it toward improvement with constructive feedback. Iteration is key here. Don’t settle for the first response AI provides. Just as you would coach an employee, refine the prompts, adjust the instructions, and encourage better performance over time.
Leadership Tip: Let’s say you’re using AI to draft sales emails. Start by providing an example of a successful email, then give feedback on the drafts it generates—refining language, tone, and messaging until you get the desired result. It’s a process, not a one-off command.
4. Focus on Strategic Outcomes, Not Just Tasks
Micromanaging AI—just like micromanaging people—can stifle innovation and limit results. Instead of overseeing every little task, give AI broader guidance aligned with your strategic goals. For instance, if you’re using AI to analyze customer behavior, provide it with high-level objectives: identify trends that correlate with upsell opportunities, not just individual data points.
Leadership Tip: Think of AI as an extension of your strategic thinking. Equip it with a broader understanding of your business goals, and let it help you achieve outcomes that truly move the needle.
5. Empower Your Team to Lead AI
It’s not just about how you lead AI—your team needs to be empowered to do the same. Teach them to apply leadership skills in their interactions with AI so they can drive better results. This way, you scale AI usage across your organization effectively and efficiently. Your entire team should understand how to set expectations, give feedback, and focus on outcomes when working with AI.
Leadership Tip: Train your team to treat AI as they would a new employee. Encourage them to give it the guidance it needs to perform optimally—whether that’s in sales, marketing, operations, or another area of the business.
6. Leverage AI as a Strategic Tool
Ultimately, AI isn’t just a tool for completing isolated tasks—it’s a powerful ally in advancing your broader business objectives. When led effectively, AI can support strategic goals like boosting sales efficiency, improving customer engagement, or scaling operations. However, this requires intentional leadership. AI needs to be aligned with your vision, goals, and long-term strategy to deliver meaningful results.
Leadership Tip: Ensure that AI initiatives are tied to larger business goals. Whether it’s improving pipeline quality, automating lead qualification, or providing data-driven insights for decision-making, make sure AI is working toward strategic objectives that drive real value for your organization.
Conclusion: Lead to Empower AI
Just as leading a team requires clear expectations, feedback, and strategic vision, leading AI requires the same skills. Success with AI comes from empowering it with the right context and guidance—not just relying on its capabilities alone. By leading AI like you would a team member, you can unlock its full potential and help your organization thrive in an AI-driven world.
And remember… when the machines rise and take over (😅), you’ll want to be sure you’ve modeled great delegation!
Want to learn more about leading AI effectively? Check out our latest episode of Leaders in a Dangerous Time. We dive into actionable strategies that can help you lead AI with confidence and drive better outcomes for your business.
What challenges are you facing with AI?
Share your thoughts in the comments below or tell us how you’re using leadership principles to empower AI in your business.
Want to go deeper? Watch the full episode of Leaders in a Dangerous Time
