_{Geoff Woods dives into AI-driven leadership strategies that empower teams, enhance decision-making, and prepare leaders for the future of work. Discover how to use the CRIT framework, build psychological safety, and create AI boards of advisors to transform your leadership approach with ethical, human-centered technology adoption.}

‍

Embracing AI-Driven Leadership Skills and Mindsets for the Future of Work with Geoff Woods

‍

Welcome to the rapidly changing world of AI-driven leadership, a world where technology is not just reshaping business, but also the very heart of how we work, collaborate, and grow. This episode of the Do Good to Lead Well podcast featuring Geoff Woods, invites leaders to rethink what it means to guide teams in an environment where artificial intelligence is increasingly woven into daily operations.

‍

Geoff Woods, founder of AI Leadership and bestselling author of The AI Driven Leader, brings a deep passion for helping leaders use AI as a practical tool, not a cure-all. His philosophy is grounded in the belief that impact is about people.

‍

Geoff shares that by treating AI as a thought partner instead of just an automation tool, he discovered that the power of artificial intelligence lies in the questions we ask, the context we provide, and the standards we set as leaders.

‍

‍

AI as a Thought Partner: How Leaders Can Position AI to Enhance, Not Replace, Human Leadership

‍

One of the most important shifts in leadership today is changing how we see artificial intelligence, from a threat to jobs to a trusted collaborator that boosts our capabilities. Geoff Woods emphasizes that AI should never be viewed as a replacement for human leadership. Effective AI-driven leadership starts by experiencing AI firsthand and treating it as a “thought partner.”

‍

By engaging with AI personally, leaders move beyond abstract fears and start to understand its real potential. AI can process vast amounts of data quickly, generate creative prompts, and provide insights that complement human intuition. This partnership creates space for leaders to focus on higher-level strategy, emotional intelligence, and team empowerment, areas where humans excel and AI simply can’t replace.

‍

AI can help refine ideas during strategic planning sessions, suggest innovative approaches, or simulate different scenarios for decision-making. But it’s up to the leader to ask the right questions, interpret AI’s outputs thoughtfully, and maintain a human perspective grounded in ethics and empathy.

‍

How AI Elevates Decision-Making and Creativity

‍

AI is transforming daily decision-making and creative problem solving for leaders and teams, regardless of their technical background or the size of the company to represent. Here are some concrete ways leaders are already using AI to level up both strategy and imagination in the workplace.

‍

1. Running Smarter Strategic Planning Sessions: AI can boost both creativity and strategic planning. One leader used AI as a “growth-minded board member” to reveal weak spots and suggest creative pivots, leading to a million-dollar equity gain by aligning his business with his lifestyle goals.
   ‍
2. Automating Customer Insights for Continuous Innovation: Creativity involves listening to customers. At Geoff’s organization, AI automates capturing and summarizing customer feedback into a weekly podcast, cutting manual work and accelerating innovation cycles.
   ‍
3. Constructing Personal “AI Boards” for Big Decisions: Geoff’s “AI Board of Advisors” uses AI personas like Steve Jobs and Warren Buffett to challenge his thinking, uncover blind spots, and push creative limits. This simulated mentorship helps leaders make bolder, smarter decisions.
   ‍
4. Empowering Talent with Guided Growth Challenges: daily use of AI among growth-minded employees, turns technology anxiety into empowerment. Even non-technical team members leverage AI to dramatically increase their impact by automating tasks and discovering innovative solutions.

‍

Psychological Safety and Empowering Teams in AI Adoption

‍

Introducing AI into teams can unsettle even the most adaptable people. Geoff Woods emphasizes that building trust is the cornerstone of successful AI adoption. When leaders approach AI with transparency and openness, they create a foundation where team members feel included rather than sidelined. This means clearly communicating what AI will do and addressing concerns about how it might change roles and workflows.

‍

"Psychological safety is key when adopting AI because if your team doesn’t feel safe to experiment, make mistakes, or ask questions, they won’t fully engage with the technology or tap into its potential for growth." _{-Geoff Woods}

‍

Instead of top-down mandates, inviting input encourages ownership and curiosity. Employees are more likely to engage deeply with new technology when they understand its purpose and see that their voices influence how it’s integrated.
‍

Some team members will jump in with enthusiasm, eager to experiment and innovate. Others may need more time, reassurance, or training to feel comfortable. Effective leaders honor this spectrum by creating flexible learning opportunities and encouraging peer support networks.

‍

Strategic Planning Enhanced by AI and the CRIT Framework

‍

Let’s talk about how AI can supercharge the way you do strategic planning, especially when you use Geoff’s CRIT framework. AI, when paired with thoughtful frameworks, helps leaders step up their game, make sharper decisions, and uncover new opportunities hidden in plain sight.

‍

The CRIT Framework: Your Step-by-Step Guide

‍

Think of CRIT as your recipe for getting the most value from AI in any problem-solving or planning session. Here’s how to use it: Context, Role, Interview, Task

‍

Context: What’s the background?

• Start by telling the AI exactly what’s going on. Be specific about your goal, the current situation, and the challenges you're facing. The more context you give, the better AI can “understand” your needs and offer tailored advice.

‍

Role: Who should the AI pretend to be?

• Decide what expert or advisor you want the AI to emulate. It could be a world-class CEO, a marketing expert, or even a blend of different thinkers. Assigning a role gives you more focused and expert-like recommendations.

‍

Interview: What information do you need?

• Now, chat with the AI like you would with an expert. Ask it tough questions about your plan. Encourage it to poke holes, offer alternatives, and dig into the “why” behind your decisions. This part is all about challenging your own assumptions and inviting new perspectives

‍

Task: What do you need the AI to do?

• Be clear about your ask. Do you want a strategy outline, a risk analysis, or a list of creative pivots? State your desired outcome so the AI can focus its feedback and deliver actionable results.

‍

_{You can hear a full breakdown of exactly how Geoff uses CRIT to 25x
his business by skipping to the 15:37 mark in the episode.}

_‍

Building AI-Driven Organizations and AI Boards

‍

‍

The idea of an “AI Board of Advisors” is a game-changer for leaders looking to stretch their thinking and make better decisions. By creating personality profiles, like simulating guidance from visionaries such as Steve Jobs or Warren Buffett,AI can challenge your assumptions, uncover blind spots, and offer diverse perspectives that mimic world-class mentorship. This approach transforms leadership by providing instant, personalized advice, empowering leaders to make bolder, smarter choices while encouraging creativity and growth along the way.

‍

_{You can hear a full breakdown of exactly how Geoff creates his
AI board of directors by skipping to the 23:15 mark in the episode.}

‍

AI Board of Advisors: Transforming Leadership with Personality Profiling and World-Class Guidance Simulation

‍

AI is not here to replace leaders—it’s here to multiply your impact. By embracing tools like the CRIT framework and grounding your leadership in empathy, continuous learning, and strategic vision, you’ll unlock new possibilities for your team and your organization. The real task? Start your own journey as an AI-driven leader today.

‍

Bonus Tip: Take two sticky notes and a thick marker. On the first sticky note, write:

• ‍How can AI help me do this?
• On the second, write: Context, Role, Interview, Task (CRIT).

Stick these on your desk or monitor where you’ll see them daily.

‍

Ready to take meaningful work to the next level?

‍

• To get practical tools and actionable tips that will jumpstart your journey, download the Ai-Driven Leader with Geoff Woods Booklet here.
  ‍
• Join the newsletter to be notified when a new episode is ready for you to listen and get every Kick Starter Booklet for all future episodes.
  
  
• And if you’re looking to elevate your entire C-Suite leadership team, learn how Craig Dowden can help your leaders perform at their highest-level visit https://www.craigdowden.com/executive-mastermind
  
  
• For a deeper dive, listen to the full-length episode of the Do Good to Lead Well podcast featuring Wes Adams & Tamara Myles:
  
  • Spotify
  • Apple Podcasts

‍