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If You're Not Using AI to Lead, You're Already Behind

  • Writer: Annekah Hall
    Annekah Hall
  • Jul 10
  • 3 min read
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On June 18, the Harvard Business Review Press Instagram posted a quote from More Human, a book by Rasmus Hougaard and Jacqueline Carter. It read:

"Leaders will not be replaced by AI, but leaders who are not leveraging AI to augment their leadership will be replaced by those who do."

I couldn’t agree more.


But let’s be clear: AI isn’t going to make you a better leader. It’s going to expose the ones who refuse to evolve.


There Are Still Leaders Who Are Anti-AI — And It Shows


Despite the flood of tools, integrations, and use cases in every sector, I still hear some leaders say:

  • "We’re not touching AI — too risky."

  • "AI is just a trend."

  • "I don’t trust it."


These aren’t just outdated opinions. They’re indicators of a fixed mindset in a world that rewards agility.


Having worked in tech for years, I’ve seen firsthand how developing a digital mindset unlocks new doors: in creativity, accessibility, healthcare, education, and how we work.

AI is not the enemy. Stagnation is.


Are We Too Dependent on AI?


Now here’s the nuance: while AI is powerful, we’re also watching a generation lose some of the foundational skills that used to set great professionals apart.


I’ve seen it happen:

  • People who can’t send a basic email without asking ChatGPT to rewrite it

  • Managers who want AI to conduct performance reviews

  • Leaders who defer to tools instead of trusting their own judgment


It raises a valid question: Are we too dependent on AI?

The answer is: it depends on how you use it.


You don’t lead people through AI.

You use AI to free up capacity so you can lead people better.

Human Interaction Still Reigns


There are still subtleties in language, tone, body language, and emotional intelligence that no AI model can replicate.


AI can’t:

  • Look an employee in the eye and sense burnout

  • De-escalate a conflict with empathy

  • Understand context that lives in organizational nuance


That’s why human leadership isn’t going away. But it is being augmented and improved by those who are willing to adapt.


How I Use AI in People Ops


Here are just a few real-world ways I use AI every week:


  1. Research international employment laws quickly

  2. Compare HR tech stacks across multiple vendors

  3. Draft communications and policy outlines faster

  4. Optimize scheduling and remove calendar chaos

  5. Find contact info for hard-to-reach clients

  6. Even help my nephew with Algebra


This doesn’t make me less capable. It makes me more available, more informed, and more effective.


If you’re still clinging to manual workflows and tribal knowledge, you’re choosing inefficiency. And your competitors? They’re not waiting for you to catch up.


AI Isn't the Threat — Complacency Is


We’ve seen it time and time again:

  • Blockbuster ignored digital streaming. Netflix ate their lunch.

  • Barnes & Noble dismissed online commerce. Amazon became the default.

  • Kodak clung to film. Instagram redefined photography.


Refusing to adapt isn’t a form of safety. It’s a business risk. The same is now true with AI.


So How Should Leaders Integrate AI?


Here’s how I coach executive teams to bring AI into their orgs — without losing their human touch:


1. Uplevel Your Team


Use AI to solve low-hanging operational challenges so your people can work on the high-value, high-thinking stuff.


→ Automate the calendar.

→ Draft the first version of a comms plan.

→ Analyze pulse survey data with sentiment tools.


Let people do what only people can do.


2. Coach Your Team on Responsible Use


Don't just let folks copy-paste from ChatGPT and call it strategy. Train your team to use AI as a tool, not a crutch.


→ Create guidelines on use cases, tone, ethics, and confidentiality.


AI is powerful. But it’s also easily abused or misused without guardrails.


3. Model It From the Top


If you're not talking about AI as a leader, you’re creating a culture of silence and fear. Show your team how you're using it. Normalize the learning curve. Curiosity is contagious. So is resistance.


Final Thought: Adapt or Be Replaced


AI won’t replace good leaders. But leaders who ignore AI? They’re already being left behind. You don’t have to become a prompt engineer overnight. But you do need to get your hands dirty. Because this isn’t about being trendy. It’s about staying relevant. And in leadership, relevance is everything.


📣 Want more bold takes on the future of work, leadership, and people ops?

🎙️ Subscribe to the HR Decoded podcast with Annekah Hall — available wherever you listen.



 
 
 

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