A few years ago, we were hearing it everywhere:
“AI won’t replace leaders. But leaders who use AI will replace those who don’t.”
At the time, it felt like a wake-up call.
But today? That quote already feels behind the curve.
Because the real shift happening right now is quieter—and deeper:
Leaders are no longer just using AI.
They’re starting to think with it.
Not as a shortcut.
Not to avoid decisions.
But to get clearer on what matters.
The Leader Who Asked AI to Listen
Not long ago, I was supporting a leader who was facing a tough, high-impact decision. She had mapped out the pros and cons. She’d asked colleagues. She’d journaled. But she still felt stuck.
In our session, we explored a different approach:
What if she used ChatGPT to mirror her thinking—just to reflect back her thoughts?
Not for answers.
Not for strategies.
Just for perspective.
She typed in her thoughts like she would in a private journal and asked the AI to paraphrase, reframe, and reflect.
The result?
She didn’t get clarity from the AI.
She got clarity through hearing herself more clearly.
That’s what we call Agentic AI—AI that supports the leader’s own agency, awareness, and growth.
AI as a Co-Thinker, Not Just a Co-Pilot
There’s no shortage of advice on using AI for productivity:
- Draft faster
- Automate research
- Summarize meetings
But the real frontier?
It’s in using AI for reflection, not just execution.
We don’t talk enough about this, but leaders need thinking space.
Not just “doing time,” but white space for reflection, strategy, creativity, and emotional regulation.
When AI is used thoughtfully, it becomes a mirror—not a machine.
A partner in clarity, not a replacement for leadership.
This Isn’t About Tech. It’s About Trust.
I work with leaders across industries—from large corporates to fast-growing startups. And I can tell you this:
The biggest barrier to leveraging AI isn’t technical.
It’s cultural.
Is it psychologically safe to explore new tools?
Do teams feel trusted to experiment without shame?
Are leaders modeling curiosity or control?
Because here’s what’s happening behind the scenes:
Employees are using AI.
They’re just not telling you.
And when innovation happens in silence, organizations miss out on shared learning, speed, and strategic coherence.
A New Leadership Habit: Co-Thinking with AI
Here’s how I invite leaders to start exploring AI as a thinking partner:
- Use it to reflect, not just to write
Try putting your inner thoughts or dilemmas into AI and ask it to reframe them back to you. - Clarify your own values
Use AI to help you see blind spots, hidden assumptions, or misalignments in your current thinking. - Start small and make it yours
There’s no one “right” way to integrate AI. Start with a leadership challenge that feels fuzzy, and use AI as a tool for clarity.
Final Thought: You Don’t Need to Be an AI Expert
You don’t have to be technical. You don’t need to understand neural networks. You just need to be curious and intentional.
The leaders of tomorrow won’t just use AI.
They’ll know how to think with it—consciously, ethically, and creatively.
That’s not about control.
That’s about capacity.
And that’s where meaningful leadership growth begins.
Curious to explore how to build this mindset in your team or organization?
Book a reflection call with Sabine—a space to explore your leadership clarity, not another sales pitch.
Let’s think together.
