End of Answers

How Leaders Unleash Human Potential and Unlock AI

No one needs your brilliant answers. 

In a world where answers flow with unprecedented ease courtesy of AI, we find ourselves at the cusp of a transformational shift. Knowledge is no longer held by our institutions, databases, books or brains, but by the machines we’ve created. 

AI is the knowledge of the collective. And it has already far-surpassed any one person’s ability to provide information, solutions, or answers. 

Yet, at the same time, this era invites us to revisit the fundamentals of human interaction – to embrace a timeless practice: the art of asking questions.

Welcome to “The End of Answers.” 

Leader, Owner, Boss — this is a wake-up call, and an invitation.

Your team doesn’t need you to have all the answers. They can find those in 60 seconds. 

Your team needs you to ask better questions, 

…and help them learn to do the same. 

In the pages ahead, we navigate the evolving landscape of AI, but, more importantly, the enduring creative potential of human relationships. We’ll discover that the key to thriving in tomorrow’s world lies not in answers we have but in the questions we ask.

As our world becomes more digitally connected and AI weaves its way into the fabric of our everyday lives, the need to recalibrate our approach to knowledge is obvious. This doesn’t mean we surrender our role as thinkers; rather, it’s a thoughtful recalibration of our focus. 

We shift from being the learners of answers to skilled crafters of questions.

Tomorrow’s executives and entrepreneurs are recognizing this shift. They see that the path to understanding and growth isn’t paved by consuming more and more information, but by the art of asking the right questions at the right times. These questions have the power to unlock the full potential of AI’s insights while unleashing the human spirit of teamwork, creativity, and innovation.

Below is the outline for the book I’m planning to write. 

This book is broken into three parts: 

1. The Fundamental Questions
2. Transformational Leadership in the Age of AI 
3. Asking Better Questions of OpenAI

Part 1: The Fundamental Questions

Technology is advancing more rapidly than ever before in human history, and not slowing down. We can’t keep up. And that’s the point. The machines are learning and applying their own learning more quickly than we can manage. The key, then, is not to compete or keep up, but to maximize what it means to be human. To play the role that only we can play. 

We can connect. 

We can connect at deep, even spiritual levels. 

We can inspire and motivate other humans to maximize their human uniqueness. 

And,

We can guide our artificial counterparts with questions that promote better outcomes, and more unimaginable possibilities. 

We are guides. 

You are a guide to your teams, as they navigate new normals. And a guide to AI, as it evolves, contributes, creates, and serves. 

Note: I know there is much made of humans making meaningful connections with AI, but that is happening in the absence of true, fulfilling human connections. This is our moment to be more fully human. 

The Egoic Leader

The changing world will leave behind the person stuck in an ego-centric mindset—needing to be the source, the smart one, the answer-man. The reign of the bottlenecks winding down. And the tighter grip one holds to their power or entitled need for respect and admiration, the more painful the fall. 

Humility will continue to be a strength and not a weakness. We’ve celebrated the “servant leader” in recent decades, but now we go further. 

It’s not enough to be humble and empower others to grow, make gains, and receive credit—although it’s part of it. The next level leader (who thrives in the new world) will also learn to ask questions that empower and draw out… the potential… 

The potential in our people…

And the potential in our technology. 

Wisdom Asks

The wise have always been question-askers. You ask a guru a question, they ask a question back of you. 

The greatest leaders throughout history have not been the most domineering. They have been the best at developing. 

Leaders who develop the people around them enjoy more loyal, high-achieving, high-producing teams that get results, share the credit, and work for the greater good. 

This is the part where an editor wants me to add stories and examples, but it almost feels cheap, like I’m needing to prove something to you. You know this truth is self-evident. You know this is the way. 

You sense in your being that making others better is the path to feeling better yourself. To finding more fulfillment in your work. 

You feel in your core that helping them achieve their dreams is the path to your own. This is the way.

And you’ve seen the other way, over and over. How the self-absorbed hard-charger leaving the used and abused in their wake “can’t get no satisfaction.” Their anger and selfishness drives short-term results but loses them most of what actually matters. 

Love.

Joy.

Peace.

And on and on. 

So,

When everything seems to be changing rapidly—life, business, society—I go back to the basics. 

And if you follow my reasoning that we don’t need your brain to be bigger, and we don’t need to your ego to figure everything out, and we certainly don’t need you to make everything about you… Then, we have to conclude that…

Questions > Answers

Questions are better than answers. That’s probably always been through, but it’s never been more true than today. More over, we need questions in a way we’ve never needed questions before. 

We need them to help us be more human. We can’t compete with AI. We can only hope to guide it… and to guide our people to make the most of this brave new world. 

Questions: Back to the Basics

When it comes to asking questions, these are the basics:

• Who
• What
• When
• Where
• Why
• (How: Let the “who” figure out the how)

Stay with me here. Everything else is complex. We need simple. It just might be this simple book and this ancient concept that unlocks your relationship with AI, and unleashes your ability to move your people. 

Who

• AI – for help thinking, solving, finding answers 
• Humans – for designing, creating, executing, overseeing

What

• What is it? Form, substance, problem it solves

When

• When is the right timing? Ideation, execution, launch

Where 

• Where is it positioned for maximum usefulness

Why

• Why does it matter and motivate me? Why would anyone care?

How

• Given the above, how do we do it? 

Part II: Transformational Leadership in the Age of AI

Chapter 1: The Foundation of Trust and Collaboration

• Questions build trust among team members.
  • Who is passionate about… Who has experience with… Who wants to…
  • What are our options… What paths make sense… What is the root issue…
  • When did you start to believe this… When is the best time…
  • Where have you seen this work… Where can we apply this…
  • Why does it matter… Why should we care… Why is this to our benefit… 
• Active listening and empathetic inquiry.
  • YMCA: “Listen First” Training
    • What I heard you say is… What am I missing? 
    • When did this become important to you? 
    • Where could this be most impactful? 
    • Why is this important to you? 
• Stories of teams transformed through open dialogue.

Chapter 2: How to Promote Learning and Growth

• Tell to create dependency. Ask to cultivate continual growth and learning.
• Provide guidance on crafting questions that encourage skill enhancement.
• Offer real-world examples of skill-focused questioning.

Chapter 3: How to Solve Problems

• IDS (EOS issue solving tool).
• Techniques for asking non-confrontational questions in difficult situations.
• Success stories of conflict resolution and creative problem-solving through effective questioning.

Chapter 4: Cultivating a Culture of Innovation

• Thoughtful questioning drives innovation within a team.
• Connection between curiosity, experimentation, and questioning.
• Examples of organizations that embraced innovative thinking via questioning.

Part III: Asking Better Questions of Open AI (ChatGPT)

Chapter 5: Understanding ChatGPT’s Dynamics

• Fundamentals of how ChatGPT works.
• Limitations and capabilities of AI language models.
• Anecdotes of common misconceptions about AI.

Chapter 6: The Art of Crafting Prompts

• Clear and concise prompts.
• Strategies for structuring prompts to elicit desired responses.
• Real-life examples of successful prompt formulation.

Chapter 7: Creating Context 

• Context in improving AI interactions.
• Examples of vague vs. specific questions and their outcomes.

Chapter 8: Probing for Deep and Useful Responses

• Probing questions to extract more comprehensive answers.
• Techniques for progressively refining queries to get the desired information.
• Instances where iterative questioning led to valuable insights.

Conclusion: Embracing Curiosity for Lifelong Growth

• Recap the key lessons from both sections of the book.
• Encourage readers to integrate improved questioning into their lives.
• Highlight the journey from asking questions to fostering growth and efficiency.

Appendix: Resources and References

• List recommended reading materials for further exploration.
• Provide additional online resources for improving questioning skills.

• Ai is the source of answers
• Questions keep us… in the conversation
• Over-talking exposes insecurity
• Questions are confident
• Baseline question flow in conversation:
• What do you mean? Just basic understanding
• What are you really saying? What’s beneath the question
• What are the implications?
• When did you come to these conclusions?
• Why is this important to you? (Why x7 spiral)
• Baseline principles for AI questions/prompts

My Prompt:

You are giving a presentation to leaders of small businesses about AI. You want to offer them a “cheat sheet” they can use to make effective use of chat gpt or AI, in general. 

ChatGPT

AI for Small Business Leaders: Cheat Sheet

Introduction to AI and ChatGPT

AI (Artificial Intelligence): Technology that simulates human intelligence, capable of learning, reasoning, and self-correction.

ChatGPT: An AI language model developed by OpenAI, capable of understanding and generating human-like text.

Key Benefits of AI for Small Businesses

• Efficiency: Automate repetitive tasks, freeing up time for more strategic activities.
• Customer Service: Provide 24/7 customer support through AI-powered chatbots.
• Insights and Analytics: Gain valuable insights from data to make informed decisions.
• Personalization: Customize marketing and sales approaches based on customer behavior and preferences.

Practical Applications of AI

Customer Support

• Chatbots: Use AI to handle common customer inquiries and issues.
• Virtual Assistants: Schedule appointments, send reminders, and manage communications.

Marketing and Sales

• Personalized Recommendations: Suggest products/services based on customer data.
• Content Creation: Generate blog posts, social media content, and emails.
• Market Analysis: Analyze trends, customer behavior, and competition.

Operations and Productivity

• Task Automation: Automate invoicing, inventory management, and data entry.
• Document Management: Automatically organize and retrieve documents.

HR and Recruitment

• Applicant Screening: Use AI to screen resumes and shortlist candidates.
• Employee Onboarding: Provide new hires with AI-driven onboarding materials and training.

Best Practices for Using AI

• Start Small: Begin with a pilot project to understand AI’s impact on your business.
• Data Quality: Ensure high-quality data for accurate AI insights.
• Security and Privacy: Implement robust security measures to protect data.
• Employee Training: Train employees on AI tools and their benefits.
• Monitor and Evaluate: Regularly assess AI performance and make necessary adjustments.

How to Use ChatGPT Effectively

Clear Instructions: Provide specific, detailed prompts for better responses.

• Example: Instead of “Tell me about marketing,” use “What are effective digital marketing strategies for small businesses?”

Iterative Approach: Refine prompts based on responses to get more accurate answers.

• Example: If the initial response is too broad, ask follow-up questions to narrow down the information.

Contextual Prompts: Give context to get relevant answers.

• Example: “I run a small bakery. What are some cost-effective ways to attract local customers?”

Review and Edit: Always review AI-generated content for accuracy and relevance before use.

Integration: Integrate ChatGPT with existing tools (CRM, email, etc.) for seamless workflows.

Tools and Resources

• OpenAI: Explore various AI tools and documentation.
• AI Platforms: Look into platforms like IBM Watson, Google AI, and Microsoft Azure AI.
• Learning Resources: Take advantage of online courses and tutorials on AI and machine learning.

Conclusion

AI offers small businesses the opportunity to enhance efficiency, improve customer experiences, and gain competitive advantages. By understanding how to leverage AI tools like ChatGPT effectively, small business leaders can drive growth and innovation.

Asking AI:

Why → What → When → Who → How → Where

Why