We live in a world that rewards assimilation and conformity. How then to lead and live truthfully and find your own Authentic Leadership voice through the AI noise…
Remember the days before sat nav?
Not everyone reading this will, of course, but there was a time when you’d just set off somewhere because you (more or less) knew the way.
Before we could even check whether there was a problem along the route. Without the constant rechecking and rerouting all the way there to save 2 minutes off our journey. Oh, the heady days of setting off with an A to Z slapped across the steering wheel.
In the days when we still had a sense of direction.
In the days when we still had a sense of direction.
What about the days before AI? Well it’s too soon to say isn’t it? Isn’t it…?
After an unexpectedly stressful summer with some tough family stuff going on, my better half and I finally broke free in our campervan to the Lake District this weekend, for a much-needed chance to breathe out. And just re-find ourselves a bit.
And I did re-find myself, or at least began to. And I realised what I’d been giving away this last few months.
All around me this weekend, I saw people walking with the sole purpose of catching the perfect selfie at the summit. Ignoring the spectacular light changes on the fells between rain showers. Yakking away at the top of their voices about work (we could literally hear them a quarter of a mile away) and not being quiet long enough to simply hear the birds, or the wind in the trees.
When queuing at the bar for the obligatory post-walk pint, we thought about the times we didn’t used to queue, but when we discussed this with other people in the pub, they had no recollection this wasn’t even a thing before covid. (A mere 6 years ago.) The barman said it seemed weird, but it was easier for him, as he just interrupted people from looking at their phones in turn and that way they all just waited passively without complaint.
This shocked me! Securing your place at the bar for a pint used to be a rite of passage where I hark from. Akin to a blood sport, depending on the venue. Darwinian rules applied etc.!
And I did re-find myself, or at least began to. And I realised what I’d been giving away this last few months.
All around me this weekend, I saw people walking with the sole purpose of catching the perfect selfie at the summit. Ignoring the spectacular light changes on the fells between rain showers. Yakking away at the top of their voices about work (we could literally hear them a quarter of a mile away) and not being quiet long enough to simply hear the birds, or the wind in the trees.
When queuing at the bar for the obligatory post-walk pint, we thought about the times we didn’t used to queue, but when we discussed this with other people in the pub, they had no recollection this wasn’t even a thing before covid. (A mere 6 years ago.) The barman said it seemed weird, but it was easier for him, as he just interrupted people from looking at their phones in turn and that way they all just waited passively without complaint.
This shocked me! Securing your place at the bar for a pint used to be a rite of passage where I hark from. Akin to a blood sport, depending on the venue. Darwinian rules applied etc.!
Which brings us back to AI…
Now I’m no luddite here. I’m currently developing a new leadership tool that will be improved enormously by the use of AI.
But along the way, I realised I’d lost my voice. Not in the way that makes my better half happy because he can watch formula 1 on TV without me asking constant questions, but in my ‘being me’ way.
This summer has been tough in the way life can sometimes be. I was busy. I was stressed. I was tired. AI was an easy way to ask, ‘give me another way of saying…‘ when I was trying to hit a deadline and had writer’s block.
I’d never dream of solely using AI to write something for me, but along the way, my voice was being eroded. Not shouted or shut down, but gradually worn away. Homogenised. Being made more palatable. More ‘professional’. I hate that word BTW. It’s too often an excuse of a word to hide behind, because you daren’t be yourself.
I woke up this morning and wrote this while I was still in bed. Scribbled my thoughts down without pausing, but feeling the need to capture a shift that was going on for me. In particular, I was struck by how everyone was following each other around like little sheep on my weekend away, all seeking out their ‘experience’ to post on social media.
And what came into my head was the chilling HAL voice from 2001: A Space Odessey. You know the one…
But along the way, I realised I’d lost my voice. Not in the way that makes my better half happy because he can watch formula 1 on TV without me asking constant questions, but in my ‘being me’ way.
This summer has been tough in the way life can sometimes be. I was busy. I was stressed. I was tired. AI was an easy way to ask, ‘give me another way of saying…‘ when I was trying to hit a deadline and had writer’s block.
I’d never dream of solely using AI to write something for me, but along the way, my voice was being eroded. Not shouted or shut down, but gradually worn away. Homogenised. Being made more palatable. More ‘professional’. I hate that word BTW. It’s too often an excuse of a word to hide behind, because you daren’t be yourself.
I woke up this morning and wrote this while I was still in bed. Scribbled my thoughts down without pausing, but feeling the need to capture a shift that was going on for me. In particular, I was struck by how everyone was following each other around like little sheep on my weekend away, all seeking out their ‘experience’ to post on social media.
And what came into my head was the chilling HAL voice from 2001: A Space Odessey. You know the one…
‘Im sorry Dave, I’m afraid I can’t do that.’
And I thought ‘hang on a minute!’ And promptly facepalmed HAL out of my head!
Because it did feel creepy and sinister. The way so called technological advances just replace the bits that make us, well, us. Our annoying bits, our pet peeves, our foibles, passions, mistakes and our sense of humour. And how these become eroded away in an almost imperceptible process of attrition.
That’s why I firmly believe that AI cannot replace a human who can think in the moment, communicate articulately and with empathy and above all, who knows what they stand for. Anyone who is able to do this clearly and confidently, is at a huge advantage to the homogeneous sheep, who outsource their thoughts and beliefs, all doing things the quick or easy way for a quiet life.
That’s not something you can do by proxy. It’s an ongoing and lifetime’s work. Meaning if you don’t pay it constant attention, your real self will be eroded until you’re not yourself at all.
Authentic Leadership has never been needed more…
So take time to stand for something and be a bit different. Be you.
That’s the foundation stone of how I support my Leadership coaching clients. Helping them be true to their best selves and having the courage and vision to turn off the sat nav, step out of line and do things differently. Their way.
By Karen Amos – Executive Coach and Founder of BrightBird Coaching & Training
That’s the foundation stone of how I support my Leadership coaching clients. Helping them be true to their best selves and having the courage and vision to turn off the sat nav, step out of line and do things differently. Their way.
By Karen Amos – Executive Coach and Founder of BrightBird Coaching & Training
Coaching and Training at BrightBird
At BrightBird, our coaching and training is practical and very human.
It’s about real conversations, real challenges and meaningful progress.
If you’re curious about our coaching and training support, even if you’re not sure what you’re quite looking for yet, then check out the support we offer your sector, or click the link to book an informal, no-obligation chat.
If you’re curious about our coaching and training support, even if you’re not sure what you’re quite looking for yet, then check out the support we offer your sector, or click the link to book an informal, no-obligation chat.
