AI and Leadership: Cultivating a Beginner’s Mindset
Artificial Intelligence is reshaping how we work, lead, and live. With its ability to create automation, generate creative solutions, and reduce the time needed to complete many types of work, AI offers opportunities we’ve never seen before.
But its rise also demands something deeper from today’s leaders - the willingness to embrace the posture of a beginner.
In the age of AI, leadership is about direction, not perfection.
The New Leadership Paradigm
AI is transforming leadership in profound ways. It expands the leader’s toolkit by offering unprecedented capabilities and empowering them to focus on their highest areas of impact.
At the same time, it levels the playing field. AI is evolving so quickly that we’re all beginners in some way. No matter how seasoned a leader may be, this is uncharted territory, and thriving in it requires a mindset of curiosity, experimentation, and humility.
Leaders who cling to old paradigms of authority or fear looking ‘incompetent’ will struggle. Those who embrace the role of learners will thrive.
The good news is that the bar is still incredibly low to put yourself at the frontlines of leaders leveraging AI. Recent research from Salesforce found that only 30% of respondents were what they termed ‘maximalists’ - those using AI multiple times a week to improve their work, and sharing their learnings. Only 30%!
There’s a world of opportunity for leaders to seize this learning moment!
Thriving in an Era of Change
So how can leaders adapt to these new norms and challenges?
A - Embrace a Beginner’s Mindset
The best leaders are comfortable saying, ‘I don’t know, but I’m willing to learn’. This vulnerability and growth mindset models adaptability and helps create a culture of experimentation with new tools.
“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s mind there are few.”
- Shunryu Suzuki
B - Experiment Relentlessly
AI is constantly iterating. Leaders must adopt the same approach - testing tools, refining strategies, and sharing what they’re finding.
“The fastest way to succeed is to double your failure rate.”
- Thomas J. Watson (founder of IBM)
C - Balance Tech and Purpose
While AI can significantly enhance efficiency, it’s essential to ensure that technological advancement ultimately serves the people and purpose you and your organisation aim to benefit.
“The question is not what technology will allow us to do, but what it will empower us to do for others.”
- Unknown
Embracing Imperfection with AI Tools
To lead effectively in the age of AI, here are some practical steps you can try to embrace a learning posture:
1 - Start Small
Begin with one or two AI tools to experiment with - or add one or two new ones!
2 - Build Time for Play
Dedicate a small window (or windows) each week to experiment with AI tools, exploring their capabilities without pressure. This help you grow your understanding and toolkit for when you actually want to use something for a specific outome.
For example, after seeing a post from a frequent AI user I follow, I spent about 30 minutes exploring a new prompt-based app builder, and was able to create a rudimentary app for a project I was collaborating on - something I had never experimented with before!
3 - Listen and Learn
Subscribe to newsletters, follow AI experimenters on LinkedIn, and stay updated on emerging tools. You can even use AI to stay updated on AI - I have a ChatGPT automated task set up to collate AI developments and emerging tools and send me a summary once a week.
Some voices you might want to follow -
4 - Do it Together
Be transparent about your learning journey. Share what you’re testing, what worked, and what didn’t. Demonstrate curiosity and courage in adopting and trialling new tools. Find people around you who are also embracing a posture of experimentation and learning.
For example, we have an #innovation channel in our team Slack space, where people share tools they’ve been discovering or trying out.
5 - Glean from Experts
Opportunities to learn from those fully immersed in this space are everywhere - find the low-barrier options that fit their needs. Recently I’ve signed up for a free virtual summit on ethical AI and a beta version of an AI masterclass for executives.
6 - Reflect and Adjust
Regularly evaluate the impact of AI tools on your workflow. What’s genuinely adding value? What’s a distraction? Use these insights to refine your approach.
Imperfection as a Strength
In the fast-moving world of AI, success comes not from mastery but from curiosity.
Leaders who thrive in this season will recognise that it’s not about perfection, but about direction - modelling learning, growing, and embracing what serves our goals.
So don’t wait to feel ‘ready’ or ‘up to speed’. Start where you are. Set the direction. And embrace the fact that in a world of rapid change, the best leaders are always learners first.