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Leadership Lab: From Frustration to FluencyWhy Your Struggle with AI Isn’t About Technology

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Welcome to your fresh DesignChange edition, delivered every 2nd Tuesday at 8am to over 730 forward-thinking leaders like you!

Have you ever felt that familiar frustration when AI gives you exactly what you asked for, but not what you actually needed? You’re not alone. That struggle with AI prompting isn’t about mastering technology….

🌿 The Real Breakthrough Isn’t Technical

Most leaders approach AI like they’re learning a new software program. But here’s what I’ve discovered through my AI Confidence Coaching work: the breakthrough happens when you realize that effective AI use mirrors effective leadership communication.

When you get specific about what you want from your team, you get better results.

When you provide context and clear expectations, people perform at their best.

The same principles apply to AI tools.

This insight came alive recently when I worked with Renate, a Senior Service Manager who was frustrated with Microsoft Copilot outputs. Her transformation wasn’t about learning new tech tricks. It was about applying her existing leadership wisdom to a new context.

💡 LeadershipLab Tip: The AI Clarity Framework

Your 5-Minute Prompting Breakthrough

Before you write your next AI prompt, pause and ask yourself these three leadership questions:

  1. What would I tell my best team member? Write your prompt as if you’re delegating to someone you trust who needs clear context and specific outcomes.
  2. How would I know this is done well? Define your success criteria upfront. What would make this output ready to use without endless tweaking?
  3. What’s the real business goal here? Frame your request around the actual outcome you need, not just the task you want completed.

Try this simple template: “As a [your role], I want to [specific task] in order to [business goal]. Success looks like [your criteria].”

For example: “As a project manager, I want to create a risk assessment framework in order to present potential blockers to the steering committee. Success looks like a clear visual that identifies top 3 risks with mitigation strategies.”

Apply this framework to one AI task today. Notice how your clarity transforms your results.

📚 Deep Dive: From Frustration to Fluency

In my latest blog article,“From Frustration to Fluency: Why Most Leaders Struggle with AI Prompting (And How to Fix It),” I share Renate’s AI transformation story. You’ll discover the three mindset shifts that changed her relationship with AI tools.

This feedback captures what makes my coaching approach different:

“I would highly recommend Karla’s AI Confidence Coaching. She explains in simple terms what AI can and cannot do, uses helpful examples, and asks the right questions to trigger ideas for day-to-day use cases.”

🔆 More Human: September 25th Workshop Preview

After our sold-out April AI workshop, Dr. Richard Grillenbeck and I are excited to announce our next coaching workshop inspired by the book: “More Human: How the Power of AI Can Transform the Way You Lead”.

This isn’t just another AI workshop. We’re exploring the Human Leader Compass, a framework that shows why authentic leadership starts in the mind. When leaders understand how to stay distinctly human while using AI tools, they create the space for innovation and connection.

Stay tuned: registration opens soon!

🧭 Your AI Confidence Journey

Using LLM models in business isn’t about becoming a tech expert. It’s about building AI literacy and approaching tools thoughtfully to improve your workflow.

My AI Confidence Coaching focuses on three core elements:

For teams ready to tackle AI adoption together, I also offer AI Barrier Busting workshops. These sessions use a step-by-step coaching approach to build collective confidence in using AI tools while reducing the fear of looking …well, stupid. When teams learn together, they create psychological safety around experimentation.

Whether you’re curious about AI, frustrated with current results, or ready to integrate these approaches more strategically, I’m here to help you build genuine confidence with or without AI. First and foremost, I’m an accredited executive coach with over 25 years of experience.

🤝 Let’s Connect

Book a complimentary consultation to explore how this approach can work for your leadership context.

Thanks for reading!

Karla Schlaepfer and the awesome DesignChange Team
DesignChange

The future of leadership isn’t about competing with AI. It’s about leading with the clarity that makes AI truly useful.

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