Self-Leadership in the Age of AI – Why “AI Is a Leadership Issue”
Reflections On Mary Meeker’s AI Report 2025
The newly released AI Report 2025 by Mary Meeker et al. https://www.bondcap.com/report/pdf/Trends_Artificial_Intelligence.pdf) is more than a trend briefing — it’s a wake-up call. Artificial Intelligence is no longer an emerging topic. It’s a global force, transforming work, society, and leadership at a scale we’ve never seen before.
But what does this mean for senior leaders, entrepreneurs, and CEOs who are not AI developers or tech specialists?
It means that self-leadership has become the key strategic skill.
Why Self-Leadership Now?
In times of exponential change, you can’t control everything. You can’t master every tool. But you can lead yourself. Self-leadership is the foundation that allows you to:
• Focus amid digital overload
• Clarify your priorities in a sea of possibilities
• Stay resilient and adaptive in uncertain times
In one of my podcast episodes, I define self-leadership as goal-oriented guidance of oneself, based on self-awareness, self-responsibility, and self-direction. These principles are more relevant than ever.
Three Reasons Why Self-Leadership Is Critical in the AI Era
1. Complexity Requires Inner Clarity
The Meeker report shows that AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and others are used by hundreds of millions weekly. Leaders are overwhelmed by speed, choice, and noise.
With self-leadership, you don’t need to be a tech expert. You need:
- A personal compass to navigate constant change
- A structured way to reflect on what matters
- The capacity to prioritize, delegate, and experiment consciously
Inner clarity helps you avoid two dangerous extremes: blind enthusiasm and rigid avoidance. It empowers you to respond rather than react, to make thoughtful decisions rather than impulsive ones. It also helps you separate what is merely trendy from what is truly transformational for your role and organization.
In my blog post “Am I on Course? A Personal Reflection Inspired by the Sea” (https://bensmann-consulting.com/am-i-on-course/), I discuss how leaders can pause, reflect, and realign when the waves of digital transformation threaten to knock them off balance.
2. Ethics and Responsibility Become Core Leadership Tasks
Generative AI is changing how decisions are made, how diagnoses are formed, and how communication works. But just because something can be automated doesn’t mean it should be.
Self-leadership sharpens your ethical sense and helps you ask:
- What are my core values, and how are they expressed in the way I work with technology?
- Where do I draw the line when it comes to delegating decisions to machines?
- How do I ensure that AI serves people, rather than the other way around?
You don’t need to be a moral philosopher. But you do need to reflect consciously on the impact of your decisions — on your team, your clients, and society at large.
This mindset is embedded in my upcoming 1:1 workshop for executives: “AI between Hype, Hope, and Fear”. It’s a personal strategy session that helps leaders gain ethical clarity and design meaningful use of AI in their specific context. (Official launch soon.)
3. Leadership Becomes Translational
Today’s leaders must translate complexity into strategy, technology into relevance, and innovation into culture. You’re expected to guide others through a fog of uncertainty, and that requires more than information — it requires orientation.
Self-leadership gives you the tools to:
- Articulate a clear vision in a time of disruption
- Integrate new developments into your leadership approach
- Stay focused on long-term goals while adapting to short-term shifts
You don’t need to have all the answers. But you need to stay engaged, ask the right questions, and develop a strategic narrative that others can trust.
My model of the Seven Fields Of Self-Leadership (https://bensmann-consulting.com/sl002-the-seven-fields-of-self-leadership/) helps structure this journey: from Vision & Mission to Projects & Products, it provides a solid foundation to lead with intention.
Conclusion: Self-Leadership Is a Strategic Imperative
The paradox of our time is this: The more decisions AI can make for us, the more we need leaders who can think clearly, ethically, and purposefully. The real question is not whether you use AI. The real question is: How do you lead yourself — and your organization — in a world where AI is already here?
If you want to explore your own role in this transformation, I invite you to stay tuned for my new 1:1 Workshop format. More info coming soon…
