Want to know a little secret about leadership?
It’s not about having a title on your business card. Or a corner office. Or an expense account.
Leadership is defined by how (and what) people feel in your presence. It’s a component of emotional intelligence (EI).
This is the element that seems to be forgotten in all this talk about artificial intelligence. We look for efficiency, automation, and analytics, but those things alone won’t lead our team or our company for us. They can’t.
AI can manage tasks and projects, but only EI can lead people.
The Human Impact
Two leaders. One has complete competence in all things AI. The platform. The prompts. Automated meeting scheduling. Predictive analytics. Complex regression models. The other leader has all of that, but also has the ability to read the room. To sense when to move forward and when to back off. To catch a subtle tone in someone’s voice that says “I need help.”
Which leader inspires loyalty?
Earns trust?
Wins respect?
You know the answer.
Building Trust, Not Code
Trust is built in small steps. Incrementally. Things like the thoughtful follow up after a tough conversation. Or the honest and sincere “I don’t know” answer to a question. Putting people ahead of process.
AI can tell your team how to do something, but it can’t tune into feelings, read subtle human cues, or inspire the trust and loyalty that only genuine human connection can create.
How to Lead with Real Intelligence
It’s basic and anyone can start today by following a few simple rules:
1. Listen Before You Speak. Pause, hear people out, and show you value their perspective.
2. Name the Emotion. Acknowledge what’s really being felt—yours and theirs. Be transparent.
3. Ask, Don’t Assume. Use open questions to uncover needs and motives.
4. Respond, Don’t React. Take a breath; choose a thoughtful response over a quick reflex.
5. Model the Standard. Let your actions set the tone for trust, respect, and accountability.
So what’s the point here?
Technology (AI) will keep getting smarter. Faster. Better. That’s a given.
But in this race for smarter, faster, and better, we have to remember that when it comes to people, it’s about making them feel seen, valued, and understood.
By all means, invest in artificial intelligence. Put it to work on what it’s best at. Then, lead with intelligence that isn’t artificial. Lead with the one thing that no algorithm can copy – your humanity.