“How do we start to develop an AI strategy” is a common question these days. If you don’t already have a working strategic theory for your business, that is a problem. But unless AI is your business, you don’t need an “AI strategy.”

What you do need in your business are AI skillsets that make it easier to carry out your current strategy.

In a recent quarterly planning meeting with a client, the leadership team didn’t spend time crafting a grand AI roadmap. There was no point.

What they have been doing is experimenting with AI to do their regular work better and faster.

Here are some examples:

• One leader who is hiring right now used Gemini to screen resumes.

• Another leader used it to clean up messy Excel data. Specifically, asking AI to sort through different spreadsheets, word, and pdf documents to extract and organize data into one useable format.

• A new leader to the team shared that she had used AI to generate one-page CliftonStrengths summaries for each of her team members to be used as a “how do I best work with …” tool. That’s brilliant! I am upset I didn’t think of it first.

• Of course, several leaders are using it to improve their email correspondence.

None of it is fancy. But all of it is helping them to be better and faster.​
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​The Myth of the Master Plan

Too many companies stall on AI because they think they need a master plan. They wait for the perfect use case, the right tech stack, or a consultant to tell them what to do.

But AI rewards curiosity, not caution.

Teams learn by doing. They ask better prompts. They get better results. They start to see new possibilities. And they build confidence—not just in the tools, but in themselves.

That’s the real strategy: build the skillset.

How Teams Learn to Use AI

Here’s what it looks like in practice:

• Start small. Use AI to write emails, summarize meetings, or clean up spreadsheets.

• Share wins. When someone finds a shortcut, share it. Celebrate it. Build momentum.

• Train by example. Don’t just teach AI. Use it in front of your team. Let them see how you think.

• Create a culture of experimentation. Make it okay to try, fail, and learn.

This client, has AI helping with recruiting, onboarding, benefit recon automation, client communication, and even leadership coaching. Not because they had a strategy—but because they had a team willing to learn.

The Real ROI of AI

The return on AI isn’t just efficiency. It’s engagement.

When people feel empowered to solve problems, they stop waiting for instructions. They start leading. They take ownership. They build systems. And they get better—faster.

Final Thought: Don’t Wait for AI to Be Perfect

AI is messy. It’s evolving. It’s not always accurate. But it’s here—and it’s powerful.

So don’t wait for perfection. Don’t wait for a strategy. Just start building the skillset.

Because the companies that win with AI won’t necessarily be the ones with the best tools. They’ll be the ones with the best habits.