AI Is here to stay, so is our judgment!
We've entered the age of AI at full speed. From writing to research. From medicine to finance. AI is everywhere.
But here’s the catch: just because it sounds smart, doesn’t mean it’s right.
To use AI well, we need more than access. We need a skillset.
These are the three biggest mental traps where your leadership needs to come in
1. Hallucinations
AI sometimes just makes stuff up. Names, stats, sources — invented on the spot in a tone that sounds authoritative.
What to do: Verify everything. Especially when it sounds too good (or too certain) to be true.
2. Optimism Bias
AI gives fast, clean output — which feels like progress. But easy answers often skip nuance, ignore edge cases, or miss what really matters.
What to do: Pause and probe. Ask: “Is this directionally right — or just conveniently polished?”
3. Accommodation Bias
We tend to reshape our thinking around what AI gives us — even if it wasn’t what we originally believed or intended.
What to do: Start from your own judgment. Let AI challenge or support you — not override you.
How I Use AI to Stay Sharp?
When I work with AI, I follow a mental hierarchy:
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If the stakes are low, I use it fast — to summarize, draft or brainstorm.
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If the topic matters, I go deeper. I slow down. I reflect longer before I decide.
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If the decision is critical, I use extended thinking. I take more time, weigh trade-offs, and — crucially — I compare at three different LLMs (Large Language Models, from three different owners of AI models) to challenge blind spots and reveal contradictions.
I don’t just use AI. I interrogate it.
In my opinion, we need to learn how AI can accellerate our impact. How we can enhance it. And we need to be very aware of the downsides and mitigate it's biggest risks. But nevertheless, AI offers us and our businesses new possibilities that we haven't seen before in history. Develop your imagination, train it like a muscle and educate yourself. Inertia, doing what you always did, is now perhaps your biggest enemy!
In the era of AI, your deep personal insights, imagination and deep experience are more important than ever. Because now 'everyone' has a tool at their disposal to sound convincing. Use your real experience to make more impact. Staying too much on the surface in this era could lead to replacement.
What can you start doing today?
AI isn’t going away. It will reshape your work, your industry, your rhythm. In almost all white collar jobs.
So here’s the move:
1. Surf the wave — but don’t lose your balance.
2. Use AI — but stay authentic.
3. Let it support you — never outsource your voice.
This isn’t about resisting AI. It’s about mastering it — deliberately, intelligently, and with your full judgment switched on.
Because in the end, what sets you apart isn’t how you use AI.
It’s who you remain while accellerating.
Hope this inspires.
Paul Donkers
Paul P.J. Donkers is a global business coach and consultant. He and his partners work with leadership teams to unlock growth and value.
Find out more at www.tencompany.org or www.ikigaicoachinginstitute.com.
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