Most People Use AI Like an Assistant. Here’s How Leaders Use It Instead

Most people use AI like a faster assistant. Leaders use it differently.

In this conversation, Geoff Woods (author of The AI-Driven Leader) explains the shift that turns AI from a shallow productivity tool into a true thought partner—one that helps you think better, make better decisions, and unlock leverage you didn’t have before.

We go deep into: *Why “better prompts” aren’t the real breakthrough *How to get AI to interview you instead of the other way around *The CRIT framework (Context, Role, Interview, Task) *A real story where AI helped a CEO find hope in 10 minutes after preparing for bankruptcy *What changes when leaders use AI for thinking, not tasks *Why this shift matters more than any specific model or tool *This isn’t about shortcuts, hacks, or automation theater. *It’s about learning how to think with AI—without outsourcing your judgment.

If AI has felt useful but shallow, this episode is designed to change that.

📚 Resources The AI-Driven Leader — Geoff Woods: https://a.co/d/gLYoeUy Geoff’s podcast: AI Leadership: https://www.aileadership.com/

About Geoff Woods Geoff Woods is the author of The AI-Driven Leader and a leading voice on how leaders use AI to improve judgment, decision-making, and leverage—not just productivity. A former Chief Growth Officer, Geoff works with CEOs, boards, and executive teams to apply AI as a thought partner, helping leaders think more clearly and make better decisions in an AI-driven world.

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Ask questions, Don't accept the status quo, And be curious.

⏱️ Timestamps: 0:00 Why most people are using AI wrong 2:05 Assistant vs thought partner: the shift that changes everything 4:37 Why “better emails” don’t matter (and never will) 6:04 The CRIT framework: Context, Role, Interview, Task 7:49 A CEO facing bankruptcy asks: “Can AI help?” 10:06 AI interviews the CEO — the question no one thought to ask 12:16 “I hadn’t slept in 90 days” → hope in 10 minutes 13:22 Why this works across industries (live workshops & Fortune 500s) 15:13 Using AI as a real YouTube thought partner (thumbnail example) 18:24 The hidden step most people skip after AI gives an answer 19:40 Staying in the driver’s seat: how leaders give AI feedback 21:54 Building an AI board (and simulating your real board) 25:13 Putting your future self on the AI board 27:27 What are you actually optimizing for? (endgame clarity) 29:47 The 3 things AI-driven leaders do differently 32:24 Will AI take jobs? How roles actually evolve 34:04 The executive assistant who became an “executive multiplier” 38:29 How to make yourself irreplaceable with AI 43:28 Raising expectations (for yourself and your team) 45:26 Are we reclaiming our humanity through AI? 47:16 Why the education system is broken for an AI world 49:06 What AI-first education looks like in practice 52:10 Teaching kids to think with AI (not cheat with it) 56:52 The moment Geoff realized AI was the future 59:15 Why AI isn’t the difference — you are 1:02:32 Final advice: how to start using AI the right way 1:05:12 Closing thoughts