I’m a great believer in the power of AI - it’s sharp, fast, and often more insightful than people give it credit for. But when it comes to deep, transformational leadership work, there’s still no substitute for real human presence.
We are, after all, animals. Our senses have evolved to interpret the real world. We scan micro-expressions for threat or trust. We touch our food before we eat it to know it’s safe. We walk into a room and, within seconds, decide whether we feel at ease or under threat. These are not digital functions; they’re ancient instincts, wired into us.
As leaders, we may operate in sophisticated systems, but our bodies are still calibrated for something more elemental - physical presence, shared space, subtle signals. That’s why I place such value on being in the room with someone at the start of our work together. AI can support the journey, but it cannot replace the initiation.
When I sit across from a client - whether in their boardroom, on a walk, or over coffee - I’m not just listening to words. I’m observing shifts in posture, changes in breath, the unsaid things that hang in the silence. This is how real rapport is built. And that rapport becomes the foundation for all the strategic and personal work that follows.
We’re also built to move. To change our physical state is to change our mental state. Whether it’s walking side by side, stepping outside, or simply adjusting the rhythm of a conversation - these physical cues help us access new thinking. They’re subtle, but they matter.
Of course, once the groundwork is in place, I often continue the work remotely. Many of my clients live and work across different countries and time zones. But the depth we achieve together is always enhanced by a real-world foundation.
That’s not an argument against AI. Quite the opposite. AI tools should be used to create more space - more efficiency, more clarity, more time - so we can spend that time where it counts: in the human world. In the moments that bring meaning, trust, connection, and insight. In real life.
Under Clear Cut Leadership, that’s where I operate - in the real, the grounded, the relational. Because leadership isn’t lived in theory. It’s lived in decision, in presence, and in how we show up when it matters.
If you’re ready to start that journey - not with an algorithm, but with a person - let’s talk.
→ Schedule a call with me to explore this further.
Liked that?
Read more insights
