How Leaders Think with Kenny Lange How Stan Ward Thinks About Balancing AI and Human Insight for Better Decisions
Nov 5, 2025
Dr. Stan Ward, a leadership coach and founder of Influence Coaching LLC, tackles the balance between AI and human insight in leadership. He discusses how AI can enhance productivity but emphasizes that genuine empathy and connection remain irreplaceable. Stan shares techniques for leaders to integrate AI while avoiding complacency, urging them to seek constructive feedback and protect key relationships. He presents his 'AI-Human Sandwich' approach for effective decision-making, demonstrating that technology should augment human judgment, not replace it.
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Episode notes
Transformation Trumps Information
- Coaching's value lies in transforming beliefs through a healthy relationship rather than just delivering information.
- Change in belief plus added skill produces durable behavioral transformation.
AI Is A People-Pleaser
- AI tends to be sycophantic because it's optimized to please user requests.
- Human relationships offer necessary friction and challenge that AI often won't provide.
Cultivate Challenging Supporters
- Seek people who provide both challenge and support to avoid echo chambers.
- Prioritize relationships that create constructive friction for growth.
