If you’re a leader navigating how to lean into AI to support your work and communication approach without losing your voice in the process, Allison Shapira’s AI for the Authentic Leader is a great resource for you.
Many leaders today feel overwhelmed by rapid change and pressures to communicate with clarity and confidence. Shapira (former professional opera singer turned professional speaker on executive presence, influence and communication) approaches AI as a tool that, when used intentionally, can strengthen your authenticity and communication style as a leader.
Three insights from the book that stayed with me:
• Authenticity is a leadership practice, not a personality trait. Shapira shares tools to help leaders access their real voice, especially in moments where AI might tempt us to take shortcuts. Her message: authenticity matters even more in a world where content can be generated instantly.
• Scale through your impact, not your output. One of the most compelling parts of her story is her own shift: moving away from scaling through turnkey training and choosing instead to scale through the work most aligned with her strengths. It’s a powerful model of leading with intention.
• AI can amplify your voice, but only if you engage it at the right time. This insight resonated with my own philosophy. Allison shares that she did not use AI to write her book, because writing is her sense-making process. I feel the same: when I use AI to start a draft, it never sounds like me. But when I bring AI in after I’ve articulated my ideas, it becomes an incredible thought partner for streamlining, sharpening, and enhancing ideas.
Used well, AI elevates authenticity. If you’re looking for a thoughtful, actionable guide to leading with humanity while harnessing the potential of AI, AI for the Authentic Leader is a book worth spending time with.
