Thoughts on Leadership

Felicia Jeffley • April 28, 2025

Why every leader needs to be AI smart - and how coaching helps.

There’s no time for lagging behind.

In today’s fast-paced environment, whether you're an individual, a start-up, a small business, or a global corporation, everyone must become "AI Smart."


That doesn’t mean becoming a technical expert. It means staying informed, understanding how AI impacts your field, and being proactive about how your organization engages with it.

Because tomorrow, a new tool will hit the market — and those who stay stuck will fall behind.


Fear Is Natural — But Action Is Necessary

Fear around AI is real and understandable.

For individuals, it often centers around loss of control, privacy concerns, misinformation, and reinforcing biases.

For companies, fears include how to get started, whether to build in-house or outsource, risks of hallucinations leading to unintended consequences, potential legal issues, and staying competitive as the field evolves daily.


As Susan Jeffers, Ph.D., famously said:

“Feel the fear and do it anyway.”


That’s where executive coaching becomes invaluable.


How Executive Coaching Helps Leaders Navigate AI

As an executive coach, I’m not here to teach you how AI models are built — I'm here to help you face the strategic and emotional challenges that come with leading in an AI-driven world.


Together, we can:


Identify where you are in your personal and organizational AI journey


Clarify your next steps aligned with your business goals


Tie AI adoption to your OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) for focus and accountability


Create and execute an implementation plan — and adjust it as the technology evolves


Manage the fear so it doesn't paralyze progress


Being "AI Smart" doesn’t mean you need to code or understand every technical detail — just like you probably don’t know how your smartphone works internally.

What matters is that you know you need it, use it wisely, and stay ahead.


Leadership Today Means Moving Forward — Even When the Road Isn’t Perfectly Clear

If you're feeling the pressure to “figure out AI” while still running a business, leading a team, or setting strategy, you're not alone.

You don’t have to carry that weight alone either.


Through executive coaching, you can stay steady, strategic, and courageous — turning uncertainty into opportunity.


Let's work together to keep you moving forward — confidently and wisely.

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