Guess Who Had a Birthday This Week?

Three insights to help you lead smarter with AI – without losing your human edge.

It’s hard to believe that ChatGPT just turned three.

In some ways, it feels like it’s been around forever. In others, we’re still just scratching the surface of what these tools can do — and how they’re shaping our work, our thinking, and our relationships.

But here’s the thing: AI isn’t actually new.

As Simon Horton reminded me during his recent appearance on the Leading People podcast, artificial intelligence has been part of our lives for years — powering search engines, filtering spam, routing traffic, suggesting hotels, etc.

What changed in late 2022 was visibility. Suddenly, AI became something we could interact with.

And that changed everything.

Like many of you, I’ve been following the conversation about what this means. Three recent articles caught my attention:

• “The Alien Intelligence in Your Pocket” (The Atlantic)
• “The World Still Hasn’t Made Sense of ChatGPT” (The Atlantic)
• “How AI Can Make us Better Leaders” (Harvard Business Review)

The Atlantic articles explore the tension between wonder and wariness. How AI can feel both familiar and alien. And how, despite the hype, we’re still figuring out how to use it well — not just quickly.

The Harvard Business Review article explores how to be an AI-Augmented Leader. Essentially, how AI can transform the way we lead and, through enhancing our awareness, wisdom, and compassion, make us more human.

I’ve been reflecting on this in my own work — and noticing both the opportunities and the risks. When used well, AI can sharpen your thinking, speed up your processes, and create space for deeper human connection.

But only if we use it thoughtfully.

In this edition of The Leading Edge, I’ve brought together three recent episodes of the Leading People podcast that explore how leaders and learners can partner with AI — without outsourcing their judgment, empathy, or values.

Two are from my long-form Leading People podcast. One is from my One Simple Thing (OST) series.

The difference?

Leading People features long-form interviews with expert guests. OST is a shorter solo format — one idea, one action, five minutes or less.

Let’s dive in.

How to Brief AI So It Actually Helps You

🎙️One Simple Thing podcast episode 82

There’s an art to writing prompts that actually help you. Most people fire off a vague question and wonder why the answer is generic. But AI can only work with what you give it — and how you give it.

That’s why I created this short 5-minute episode to show you how to brief AI like a pro. You’ll learn to frame your inputs clearly, define the outcome you want, and treat the tool as a collaborator, not a magician.

Test this out: Give AI a role to play (“act as my leadership coach”) and define the context before asking your question.

“Clarity in = Clarity out. Garbage in = Garbage out. It’s that simple.”

🎧 Listen here: https://leadingpeople.buzzsprout.com/1496338/episodes/17450711-how-to-brief-ai-so-it-actually-helps-you

How to Train Your Brain for the AI Era

🎙️ Leading People with Dr. Jon Finn

Jon Finn says we don’t just need emotional intelligence in the age of AI — we need Brain State Intelligence. That means learning to shift into a resourceful mental state before engaging with complex challenges — especially those involving AI tools.

Whether you’re leading a team, making decisions, or prompting an AI model, how you show up mentally shapes what you get out. And you can train your brain for that.

Test this out: Pause and reset your state before using AI. Don’t fire off prompts in a rush. A calm, clear brain leads to better results — from people and machines.

“Peak performance isn’t about talent. It’s about habits. You can train your brain like you train your body.”

🎧 Listen here: https://leadingpeople.buzzsprout.com/1496338/episodes/18156669-how-to-train-your-brain-for-the-ai-era

How AI Can Help You Resolve Your Conflicts

🎙️ Leading People with Simon Horton

Simon Horton makes a counterintuitive case: that AI can actually improve our ability to handle tough conversations. But only if we avoid the temptation to delegate humanity to the machine.

Instead, we should use AI to prepare better. To script potential responses. To generate empathy-boosting perspectives. But when it’s time to talk, you show up, not the robot.

Test this out: Use AI as a pre-conversation coach. Feed it the context and ask it for possible scripts or questions. Then choose what resonates with your values and voice.

“AI doesn’t remove the need for empathy. It reminds us how valuable it really is.”

🎧 Listen here: https://leadingpeople.buzzsprout.com/1496338/episodes/18230720-how-ai-can-help-you-resolve-your-conflicts

Quick Wins from This Edition

• Don’t just use AI. Learn to brief it.
• Train your brain for the task at hand — not just the tool.
• Use AI to support tough conversations, not replace them.
• Be intentional about how your state, values, and clarity shape the results you get with AI.
• Work with AI to augment your awareness, wisdom and compassion.

Want to explore this further?

At Wide Circle, we’re helping leaders and teams integrate AI in human-centred ways — while still developing the skills that matter most: empathy, clarity, curiosity, resilience.

If you’re designing learning journeys or leadership programmes for 2026, now’s the time to ensure they’re futureproofed — and deeply human.

Explore our services: https://www.widecircle.eu/our-services

Let’s Start a Conversation

• Which of these tips do you find most useful?
• How are you already using AI to support your leadership or communication?
• What opportunities — or threats — do you see for your people?

Drop me a comment or message. I’d love to hear how you’re navigating this shift.

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