Yesterday's NFL conference championships delivered 2 very different games... and 2 lessons for leading your team through its AI transformation.
Start with Sam Darnold. 3 years ago, he was a "bust." Yesterday he threw for 346 yards & punched Seattle's ticket to the Super Bowl.
Same guy. Different system.
Before you start planning layoffs or panic-hiring "AI Natives," ask yourself: Are your people actually wrong for the AI era... or are they just in the wrong environment?
The unsexy move is often the right one.
Take your existing talent, give them the right tools & training, and watch them surprise you.
Pick 1 person on your team you've mentally written off. What would it take to set them up differently?
Now flip to the Patriots. Drake Maye threw for 86 yards in a Denver blizzard. Ugly football. Patriots win 10-7.
Your AI transformation doesn't need to be pretty. It needs to work.
The companies making real progress aren't chasing flashy pilots. They're grinding out boring, practical use cases that actually move the needle.
What's the "unsexy" AI project you've been ignoring because it doesn't feel innovative enough?
2 games. 2 reminders. Sometimes the talent you need is already on your roster... and sometimes winning ugly beats losing pretty.
What's your #1 AI priority this week?