I took my foot off the gas with my AI-forward team cadence last quarter. I thought the team had hit a plateau and needed a break. They did, but what I saw next was what made me realize I screwed up.
The car didn't crash. It just... coasted.
From 70 MPH to 35 MPH on a highway that demands speed.
Here's what I learned:
When you're building an AI-first culture, there's no cruise control. You're either accelerating or decelerating. There is no steady state.
I got self-aware real quick, punched myself in the face (metaphorically), and asked: "Slowinski, what the hell are you doing?"
THE FIX:
Last week, at the all-hands meeting. I surveyed my team. Got real feedback. Then we rebuilt.
Introducing Weds.ai 2.0:
→ 30 min: Learning session (tech showcase)
→ 30 min: Use case discussion
→ 30 min: Two random teammates demo their daily AI tools
That's it. 90 minutes weekly vs. our old 5-hour hackathons.
I threw everyone's names into ChatGPT and said, "Randomize until the end of March." We're locked and loaded through Q1.
THE BIGGER LESSON:
Success isn't one giant leap. It's little steps.
Sometimes forward. Sometimes backward. Sometimes sideways.
But you keep moving. You don't quit.
NEW LAUNCH: LITTLE STEPS
I'm dropping a new content series, 1-3 minute tasks, tips, and videos to help YOU become the AI leader you want to be.
Little Steps = Success
Best,
Kathy
