I came across a great post from Steve Gladis (linked below), someone I’ve had the privilege of working with in the past. Steve has always offered fantastic insight and guidance, and this piece continues that tradition.

The central message is clear: as leaders, we must learn to leverage and manage AI, otherwise, we risk missing a tremendous opportunity to strengthen both ourselves and our organizations.

Steve outlines 10 leadership skills for the age of AI, and while all are valuable, the first is truly foundational: leaders need to understand AI, even if they’re not experts. That baseline understanding is what enables us to confidently apply the other skills and unlock AI’s potential for long-term success.

1. AI Literacy (Without Being a Data Scientist)

AI literacy is about fluency, not mastery. You don’t have to code, but you do have to understand the language. Leaders should understand the distinction between machine learning and generative AI, the meaning of “training data,” and why bias can occur. Without this literacy, leaders risk falling into two extremes: either embracing the hype (“AI will solve everything!”) or dismissing it as irrelevant (“It’s just a fad”). Both are dangerous. Literacy gives you balance—you can evaluate opportunities, question assumptions, and make more intelligent choices. Think of it like financial literacy. You don’t need to be an accountant, but you do need to be able to read a balance sheet.

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