Hey Reader,

We need to talk about dumbest thing smart leaders are doing right now:
​
Outsourcing all of their judgment to a chatbot.

See, everyone is worried about AI replacing them. I'm more worried about what it's doing to the brains of people using it.
​
Researchers call it cognitive offloading...

When you hand over thinking to tools instead of doing it yourself, you're less likely to think critically and remember what you produce.

I'm hearing about the side effects of cognitive offloading more and more in closed-door conversations with leaders:

• "I'm not as sharp as I used to be."

• "I can't write an email without running it through ChatGPT first."

• "The moment I feel stuck, I reach for it. I don't even try to figure it out myself anymore."

Let me be clear: this is NOT an anti-AI message. I love AI. My team and I use it every day. You should be using it to make your work faster and better.

(In fact, we're launching a "MelodyGPT" inside Speak Like a Senior Leader™ -- a custom tool trained on my frameworks so you can get on-demand scripts, talking points, and communication support anytime you need it.)

But be careful when you become dependent on it.

The capacity for original thought is becoming rarer. Please protect yours.

Which brings me to this week's podcast episode...

Managing Up & Down in the Age of AI

Relationships matter more than ever.

How you build trust and influence with your team and direct reports, but also up the chain of command with your superiors, determines your success and your level of satisfaction at work.

Enjoy this chat between myself and Erica Keswin, author of Bring Your Human to Work, The Retention Revolution, and Rituals Roadmap.

We discuss the nuanced skills and strategies today’s best leaders are using to stand out in our AI-enabled world...

Where everything happens at lightning speed and people are more disconnected and stressed than ever.

Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

---

More ‘Ridiculously Useful’ Resources

5 signs you're addicted to ChatGPT

In this recent piece for Forbes, I shed light on warning signs that you've outsourced too much of you're judgment to an LLM – and what to do to become an AI-enabled leader without becoming intellectually lazy.

​→ Read the article​

The art & practice of breakthrough thinking

If this week's message about protecting your mental capacity resonated with you, check out the book The Net and the Butterfly: The Art and Practice of Breakthrough Thinking. I first stumbled across it way back in 2017. It's a fascinating glimpse into how iconic ideas came to be. Plus it's filled with exercises to strengthen your own ability to think big.

​→ Get your copy​

Stop overanalyzing everything

If you're someone who can't stop tweaking, researching, and second-guessing before you make a decision — AI probably isn't helping. It's giving you infinite options and one more opinion every time you ask. Tune into this podcast episode about how to quit overthinking everything and make better decisions, faster.

​​→ Listen here​

---

Your Roadmap to Influence Without Authority

Did you know ​​when you order a copy of my new book, ​Managing Up,​​ you get access to the Book Bonus Vault for FREE (value $97)?

This includes word-for-word scripts and templates for your trickiest workplace moments:

→ Exactly how to say no to your boss – without damaging the relationship or looking like a slacker

→ Reputation-saving phrases for when someone takes credit for your work in meetings

→ Fill-in-the-blank frameworks to highlight your achievements without sounding boastful

STEP 1: ​​Order a copy of the book​​ from your favorite retailer.

STEP 2: Enter your order number in the form ​​here​​.

STEP 3: We'll verify your purchase, and you can enjoy the vault!

Talk soon,