The Proof Is in the Prompt: Why Great Leaders Make Great AI Users

I wasn’t reading Wired or TechCrunch when I first heard about AI. It was the morning news—mainstream, not niche. That got my attention.

They were talking about a company called OpenAI, and a new kind of assistant. Smarter than search, capable of writing, reasoning, and responding in real time. My first reaction? No thanks—I’m not handing over access to my thoughts, ideas, or personality to a chatbot. But the longer I listened, the more curious I became.

So I opened my browser, signed up for a free account, and typed my first prompt.

What happened next stopped me cold.

Words spilled onto the screen faster than I could think. The response was complete, polished—wrapped up like it had read my mind, edited it for clarity, and handed it back with a bow. That was the moment I understood: AI isn’t a novelty; it’s a turning point. A shift in how we think, work, and lead.

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I started using AI every day. Not just for research or quick answers—but to write more clearly, prep for meetings, build frameworks, and test ideas before bringing them to a team. I wasn’t just looking things up. I was thinking through things—with the AI.

That’s when I realized something that changed how I approached every interaction with it: AI doesn’t reward you for asking questions the way Google does. It rewards you for knowing what you want.

Search engines want keywords. AI wants context. The more specific I was about my goals, audience, tone, and constraints, the better the results. That small shift, learning to ask more intentionally, felt familiar. It’s what leaders do every day.

I was talking about this over lunch with Katie Franklin, an attorney and educator who’s been exploring AI in law and higher ed. She said something that stuck with me:

“Clear prompting is really just clear communication. The same skill that gets you sharp answers from AI is the one that gets you sharp thinking in a boardroom.”

She laid it out simply: bad prompts give you noise. Good prompts give you insight. And great prompts? Those unlock new thinking—because they force you to get clear before you ask.

Katie shared a framework she teaches students and colleagues—one I now use and model for my own teams:

• Start with the outcome. What do you actually need?

• Add context. Who’s the audience? What’s the tone?

• Include facts. What does the AI need to know to get this right?

• Set limits. Is there a word count? A format?

It’s like writing instructions for a very smart but very literal assistant. When leaders approach AI this way—not as a magic answer machine, but as a tool that reflects the clarity of their own thinking—it becomes more than just efficient. It becomes strategic.

And here’s something worth watching: some people are naturally strong prompt engineers—not because of technical training, but because they communicate with context, clarity, and curiosity. Traits like thoughtful framing, role awareness, and iterative questioning are exactly what AI responds to best.

Some researchers believe women may be uniquely positioned to excel in this space, thanks to those very habits. Yet, women have historically been slower to adopt AI tools, according to discussions like this one from IMD and The Female Quotient, which explores how greater female participation could improve outcomes across the AI landscape.

The takeaway is clear: strong prompting starts with strong communication—and that’s something leaders already know how to practice and refine, whether they’re leading in the boardroom, on a care team, or around a kitchen table.

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So here’s my advice, especially if you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the AI talk: Start small. Ask AI to help rewrite an email in a different tone. Summarize a messy meeting transcript. Draft an outline for your next team huddle. Notice what works—and what doesn’t.

It’s not about getting it perfect. It’s about building the muscle memory to think more clearly, ask more intentionally, and lead with more precision.

Because in a world where anyone can use AI, the advantage will go to those who know how to ask. And as it turns out, the proof is in the prompt.

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Curious how prompting could elevate your leadership style? Leave a comment or message me—I’d love to hear how you’re using AI in your work.