Patti’s Pearls of Wisdom – The Human Advantage: Leading with Heart in the Age of AI

There was a time when being “tech-savvy” at work meant knowing how to fix the copy machine. If you could clear a paper jam without calling IT, you were practically a hero. Fast forward to today, and we’ve graduated from copy machines to Copilots — trading toner cartridges for prompts.

And while technology has changed everything about how we work, it hasn’t changed why we work: to contribute, connect, and create something meaningful.

So how do you thrive in a world where AI can write, summarize, or brainstorm faster than you can finish your morning Celcius, without becoming just another cog in the algorithm? Let’s talk about how to use AI without losing your humanity.

1. Treat AI Like Your Intern, Not Your Boss

If AI were a person, it wouldn’t be your manager — it would be your overenthusiastic intern (so, basically, a you FOR you). It’s eager to help, not always accurate, and occasionally makes things up with complete confidence.

The best professionals use AI to enhance their thinking, not replace it.
Use it to organize your ideas, outline a report, or draft that tricky email — then go back and add your insight, tone, and story. AI can help you sound polished, but only you can make it sound authentic.

Pro tip: Never hit “send” on something written by AI without reading it out loud first. If it doesn’t sound like you, it’s not ready. 

2. Ask Better Questions Than Everyone Else

The future belongs to the curious, not just the technical. AI rewards clarity, and clarity comes from good questions. Instead of asking, “Write a professional bio,” try, “Help me write a professional bio that highlights my leadership in volunteer work and sounds confident but warm.”

Good questions lead to great answers. Thoughtful prompts aren’t just about getting better text — they’re about learning to think strategically, synthesize ideas, and communicate intent.

Pro tip: Practice writing prompts the same way you’d practice interview questions. The clearer you are, the smarter your results.

3. Use AI for Thinking, Not Just Typing

AI isn’t just for generating content — it’s for clarifying thought.
You can use it to:

• Summarize meeting notes and spot patterns you missed.
• Reframe feedback into a growth plan.
• Brainstorm new approaches to an old challenge.

When used well, AI becomes a mirror — reflecting your ideas back to you, sharper and more organized.

Pro tip: Try asking AI, “What questions should I be asking about this project?” It often reveals blind spots you didn’t see.

4. Guard Your Integrity Like It’s Your Password

AI can save time, but shortcuts come with consequences. Copy-pasting entire responses, misrepresenting your work, or using someone else’s words without acknowledgment might not seem like a big deal — until it is.

Ethics still matter, especially when tech moves faster than the rules. Own your output. Use AI transparently. And remember, credibility is hard to build and easy to lose.

Pro tip: If you wouldn’t be comfortable explaining how you created something, you probably need to redo it.

5. Stay Human — That’s Your Competitive Edge

What AI can’t do is care. It doesn’t feel pride in a job well done, it doesn’t comfort a coworker after a rough day, and it doesn’t see opportunity in chaos. You do.

Your creativity, empathy, and curiosity are your most future-proof skills. So learn the tools, master the systems, and stay humble enough to keep evolving — but never forget: you are the soul in the software.

Pro tip: Pair your digital fluency with emotional fluency. The people who can connect hearts and harness tech will define the next generation of leadership.

Final Thought

When I was an intern — back before Facebook was even a thing — my claim to fame was keeping the office candy dish full. (That’s it. That was the peak. I was truly terrible at being an intern.)

Fast-forward a couple of decades, and somehow I’m now leading AI strategy at my association and helping others learn how to use generative tech responsibly.

It’s funny — the tools have changed, but the job hasn’t. It’s still about making people’s day a little easier, whether that’s with a handful of chocolate or a well-written AI prompt.

AI will make your work faster. Your humanity will make it matter. Use both.

Along with serving on the NeW advisory board, Patricia Rausch serves as the Vice President of Education at the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors. Leading the charge on new learning initiatives, she develops and executes career-connected educational programming and resources aimed to transform and advance the distribution workforce.