What AI-first leadership really looks like
Leadership in the AI era requires a major change in control, strategy, and influence. The executives who succeed will be those who view AI not only as an assistant but as a...
Brain Circuits
Your AI-first leadership journey: How NOT to begin
Most leadership teams are not ready for the challenges of leading in the AI age. It begins, says Susanne May, with understanding what AI-first leadership does not mean, and recognizing the attitudes that may be holding you back.
AI-first leadership: What Not to do
Source: May & Company
AI-first leadership is not about replacing humans with machines. Neither is it simply about another efficiency drive or waiting for the technology to mature. And it’s not something you can just hand over to IT and hope for the best.
Four lethal attitudes that may be holding you back
1. The fearful strategy
“AI is taking over. We must lay off employees and automate all processes.”
This panic mentality results in poor choices, such as cutting staff numbers before investing in reskilling. AI does not displace humans; it displaces jobs. Intelligent leaders are more concerned with equipping humans to accomplish more important work with AI, not less.
2. The efficiency-is-everything view
“Let’s leverage AI to reduce costs and accelerate.”
Sure, AI can automate processes. But if your metrics are only focused on cost savings, you’ll miss out on the larger opportunity: transforming your business model to generate completely new value.
3. The passive approach
“We will use AI when it becomes necessary.”
By the time something becomes “necessary,” it will be too late – AI is accelerating exponentially. Delaying action sacrifices ground to more aggressive, speedier companies.
4. The hand-it-off-to IT mentality
“This is a technology project. IT will take care of this.”
AI is not an IT project: it’s an entire organizational leadership shift. Every department – people, finance, marketing, operations – needs to become AI-literate and active in its adoption.
To meet the challenges of the AI-first age, leaders must let go of many traditional notions of strategy, become AI-literate and center strategy on AI.
Key learning
AI is not simply transforming industries: it’s a company-wide transformation that requires rewiring leadership at every level. To meet the challenges of the AI-first age, leaders must let go of many traditional notions of strategy, become AI-literate and center strategy on AI.
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Further reading:
Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
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Log in here to join in the conversation with the I by IMD community. Your subscription grants you access to the quarterly magazine plus daily articles, videos, podcasts and learning exercises.