Most leaders I work with aren’t fighting AI anymore. You’ve all stopped resisting. Instead, you’re experimenting – and starting to see the potential.
But…there’s still a quiet undercurrent of worry no one’s really talking about. While speaking in front of 40 successful, entrepreneurial women at Janine Garner’s Elevate quarterly business planning session last week, I did a quick survey.
I asked everyone to raise their hand if any of the following questions resonated:
- Will my clients eventually choose AI over me?
- Am I a fraud for using AI to write my content?
- Which tools should I actually be using – and am I using them properly?
- Am I getting the most out of AI or just scratching the surface?
You know what? At least 50% of the room raised their hands every time.
This is why hope and trust need to be part of the AI conversation.
Because they’re not just fluffy feelings – they’re the foundation of how we lead, how we show up, and how we stay human while navigating a fast-moving tech revolution.
This article builds on my recent Elevate keynote and my book AI-Human Fusion – to explore how you can work with AI without losing your voice, your values, or your clients along the way.
Hope: From pressure to possibility
Generative AI seemed to appear overnight – bringing a rush of excitement, confusion, and pressure. Suddenly, you were expected to keep up, learn fast, and implement everything… while still running your business as usual.
No wonder so many leaders feel overwhelmed.
But you don’t need to master it all at once. Staying open and curious is enough to start.
Here are a few reminders:
- You don’t need all the tools.
With 20,000+ AI tools out there, it’s easy to overdo it. But more tools often lead to more confusion.
Tip: Start small. One or two solid tools that support your goals is more than enough. - You don’t need to follow every expert.
There’s a lot of noise online – and not all of it’s helpful.
Tip: Tune into voices that align with your values. (Heard of that business chick, Leanne Shelton? I heard she’s pretty cool… :P) Block out the rest. - AI isn’t replacing your creativity.
Don’t let AI have the final say. It should be your starting point only.
Tip: Use AI to get unstuck, not to replace your voice. The magic still comes from you.
Hope means approaching AI with clarity – not panic. And when you do, it becomes a powerful tool for moving forward, not just keeping up.
Trust: Don’t trade connection for convenience
Your clients are looking to you for clarity, confidence, and care – especially now. And while AI can help you move faster, that speed can backfire if it comes at the cost of connection.
That’s where trust comes in.
Used without oversight or intention, AI can lead to content that’s technically fine – but emotionally flat. Chatbots that answer quickly – but leave people frustrated. Social posts that sound polished – but lack your personality.
In the rush to stay visible, too many leaders are losing their voice – and their audience.
Trust is built and maintained when your clients still feel you in what you say and share. Your voice. Your values. Your thoughtfulness.
So before you post, publish, or automate something, pause and ask:
Is this helping me stay connected to the humans who matter?
If the answer is yes – you’re using AI the right way.
This is how we stay human
Hope and trust might not sound like the most “cutting-edge” AI strategy – but they’re what will carry you (and your clients) through the noise.
Because at the end of the day, AI can’t replace what makes you you. It can’t replicate your judgement, your nuance, your experience, or your empathy. But it can support you – when used with purpose, clarity, and just a little human edge.
If this article resonates with you, my book AI-Human Fusion goes deeper into exactly how to work with AI in a way that’s aligned, ethical, and empowering – without losing your voice, your values, or your clients in the process.
✨ It’s available now, in stores and online.
Grab your copy here:
P.S. This article is the result of a collaboration between human insight and machine magic.
