AI Field Notes: Why Leaders Struggle With AI Adoption

Many leaders are watching AI accelerate around them, yet hesitate once it becomes part of their own work. The hesitation is understandable. New tools create uncertainty, and this one is arriving faster than anything we have seen. But in most cases, the real barrier has little to do with technical difficulty. It begins with a perception: using AI feels like cheating.

The “Cheating” Narrative Runs Deep

We have heard this with every major shift in how people work. Calculators would “ruin math.” The internet would “kill learning.” Google would “make us lazy.” And now AI has become the newest target.

The difference today is not the fear itself. It is the speed. AI can draft, summarize, analyze, and recommend at a level that once took significant time and skill. Leaders who have spent decades building those skills can feel like the technology is replacing effort they once had to put in themselves. If students can shortcut assignments, is AI undermining the value of the work?

This mindset is common, but it misses the point. Every generation has faced a tool that changed how work gets done. Leaders who embraced those tools moved forward. Leaders who resisted fell behind.

AI is no different. It is not a shortcut. It is a capability.

Fear of Getting It Wrong

The second barrier is more pragmatic. Leaders worry about AI hallucinations. They worry about the authoritative tone AI uses even when the answer is wrong. They worry about looking foolish if they rely too heavily on an unverified result.

This is a valid concern. Good leaders hold themselves to a high standard. They do not want to make decisions based on unreliable information. Yet the answer is not avoidance. The answer is competence.

Why the Human Still Matters

AI accelerates thinking, but it does not replace judgment. Leaders must remain in the loop, reviewing outputs, validating facts, and ensuring the final decision reflects experience rather than automation. This discipline turns AI from a risk into a force multiplier. Leaders who combine rapid AI-generated insights with their own standards for accuracy and accountability consistently outperform those who rely on AI blindly or avoid it entirely.

My Own Early Path With AI

I started using AI in late 2024. I could see the potential, or at least I thought I did, but I had no real training. I decided to audit a course through Coursera from Vanderbilt University. It was not a technical class. It was a practical one, which made it exactly what I needed.

Every module pushed me to try something new. Draft a scenario. Ask for alternatives. Break down a complex idea and ask the model to explain it back. Identify blind spots. Challenge the answer. Revise the prompt. The more I experimented, the more I realized how much I did not know.

That experience changed my perspective. I had viewed AI as a helpful tool. What I learned was that it is becoming a core skill of modern leadership. If I did not take the time to study it now, I could be left behind later. The leaders who build proficiency early will pull away from the pack.

AI Is Not Cheating. It Is Leadership Adaptation.

Using AI does not diminish experience, judgment, or expertise. It enhances them. Leaders still decide the direction. They still weigh the risk. They still set expectations and take responsibility for outcomes. AI is simply part of the process, just as calculators, spreadsheets, and internet research once became part of the process.

The misconception that “using AI is cheating” will fade, just as all the others did. What will remain are leaders who adapted and leaders who did not.

A Better Way to Think About It

Instead of asking, “Is it cheating to use AI?” leaders should ask:

• Am I learning how this tool can support better analysis?
• Am I practicing how to reduce risks, verify information, and guide outputs?
• Am I prepared for a future where AI competency will be a basic leadership expectation?
• Am I staying in the loop by reviewing, validating, and refining every AI-generated result before it becomes a decision?

Leaders who answer yes to these questions are already moving ahead.

The Opportunity in Front of Us

AI is not here to replace disciplined thinking. It is here to strengthen it. Leaders who take a proactive and deliberate approach will gain clarity, speed, and stronger decision support. More importantly, they will develop the judgment needed to use AI responsibly.

The first step is simple. Study the tool. Test it. Learn how it behaves. Build confidence through practice. The competency you build today will position you for the opportunities that are coming tomorrow.