The AI Assembly x Belinda Thomas Series
About this series
This post continues our collaboration with Belinda Thomas, adapting her newsletter “Okay then. What’s your move?”. We’ve integrated her insights into a piece that fits our AI The Right Way® philosophy. Belinda and Karrina will delve deeper into these ideas together during the HerAIStory “Leading While Learning” workshops, highlighting how AI frees time for strategic thinking and human development.
Opening
Time has always been the villain in leadership stories. Yet AI is starting to give hours back. This creates a new reckoning: what will you prioritise when technology frees you up?
The Reality
A London School of Economics study found that professionals using AI save 7.5 hours per week on average. Those with AI‑specific training save 11 hours, while those without save about five. Only 32% of people surveyed had received AI training in the past year. The real question isn’t when to roll out another pilot; it’s what AI is for in your organisation.
The Opportunity
Belinda emphasises that the key issues are judgement, human impact, prioritisation and leadership courage. Imagine if you and each team member suddenly got a day back every week. Would you clear backlogs, tackle hard problems, invest in capability, focus on strategic objectives or just move faster doing the same things?
Practical Steps
Define your north star: Clarify strategic goals before deploying AI. Otherwise, efficiency becomes busy work.
Invest in training: The biggest gains come from those with AI‑specific training.
Measure human impact: Track how AI affects workload, well‑being and collaboration.
Prioritise courageously: Use the time dividend to focus on high‑value initiatives and say “no” to the rest.
Reflect and adjust: Regularly review how you’re using your reclaimed hours and tweak as needed.
Bottom Line
AI’s gift of time is only meaningful if you decide what matters. Leaders who turn the time dividend into strategic thinking, skill building and human development will set their organisations apart. Don’t let reclaimed hours slip back into busy work.
Want to see this in action?
Experience how these ideas play out in real time at our HerAIStory “Leading While Learning” workshops. Karrina and Belinda co‑facilitate hands‑on sessions that blend AI‑adaptive leadership with practical, peer‑based exploration. Check our events calendar to find a workshop near you, and let Belinda know The AI Assembly® sent you!
Image made with prompt by Gemini in Google
About Belinda
About the Author
Belinda Thomas is a strategic leadership coach and founding member of our HerAIStory community. Through her practice, Belinda Thomas Inc., she helps senior leaders and executives deliver big strategies, lead thriving teams and build leadership they’re proud of with a blend of commercial smarts, emotional intelligence and a healthy dose of cheek.
Raised on a farm and just as comfortable in a shearing shed as she is in a boardroom, Belinda brings grit and authenticity to her work.
A former competitive fly fisher, she learned first‑hand how coaching unlocks performance. Today, she’s on a quiet crusade to bring joy and satisfaction back to leadership and push back against burnout. As co‑facilitator of our HerAIStory “Leading While Learning” workshops, she shares her AI‑adaptive leadership expertise to empower women leading businesses and teams.
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