This blog series was developed from a Fireside Chat at the 365 Leadership Summit with Geoff Ables, CEO of C5 Insight, and John Siefert, CEO of Cloud Wars and Dynamic Communities. The conversation explored what leaders are experiencing as AI reshapes how work gets done and what that means for leadership itself.
Geoff Ables shared a story about his mentor who dumped hundreds of puzzle pieces onto the floor without explanation. Naturally, everyone began sorting edges, grouping colors, and trying to figure out where the pieces belonged.
After several minutes, someone finally asked the obvious question: “Can we see the picture on the box?” Once they understood what they were trying to build, the puzzle came together much more quickly.
The lesson wasn’t really about puzzles. It was about leadership.
As organizations adopt AI, many are eager to experiment with new tools, automate processes, and find the next high-impact Copilot use case. Yet without a clear vision of where the organization is headed, those initiatives can become isolated improvements rather than coordinated AI transformation.
Technology can help people work more efficiently, but it doesn’t define the destination. That’s still the responsibility of leadership.
As Geoff Ables put it, “Without a vision, people perish.”
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AI Can Solve Problems, Leaders Decide Which Ones Matter
AI is remarkably good at helping organizations execute work more efficiently, but it can’t provide the vision that guides execution. Leaders still have to define the organization’s future direction, prioritize opportunities, and determine how technology supports long-term business goals.
AI can analyze information, recommend options, and automate tasks, but it can’t define an organization’s purpose or establish its business priorities. Those remain leadership responsibilities.
Without a clear vision, AI simply helps organizations move faster. Vision helps ensure that speed is directed toward opportunities that align with the organization’s long-term strategy rather than every opportunity that emerges.
Vision Gives People a Framework for Better Decisions
The puzzle story wasn’t just about providing vision. It was about providing context.
Once everyone could see the picture on the box, they no longer needed constant instruction. They understood how the individual pieces fit together and could make better decisions on their own.
The same principle applies to AI transformation.
When leaders communicate a clear vision, employees have the context they need to make good decisions without waiting for constant direction. They can evaluate new ideas, identify opportunities that support the organization’s goals, and adapt as AI capabilities continue to evolve.
That’s one of the most important outcomes of leadership. Vision doesn’t eliminate uncertainty, but it gives people the confidence to navigate it together.
Vision Doesn’t Stop with the Executive Team
Communicating that vision isn’t solely the responsibility of the executive team. Every leader influences how people understand the future.
Department leaders, managers, project leads, and team supervisors all translate organizational priorities into everyday decisions. They’re often the people employees turn to when they’re trying to understand why a new initiative matters or how AI changes the way they work.
As AI continues to reshape roles and processes, those conversations become even more important. People don’t need leaders to have every answer. They need leaders who can provide context, communicate priorities, and help them see how today’s work contributes to tomorrow’s goals.
The Picture Still Has to Come from People
The puzzle only came together after people understood what they were building. Organizations are no different.
AI will continue to reshape how work gets done, creating new opportunities to improve productivity, automate processes, and deliver greater value. But technology alone won’t create alignment.
Leaders still have to provide the vision that gives people context for the decisions they make every day. When employees understand the organization’s vision, they can make better decisions, prioritize opportunities, and adapt to change with confidence instead of simply reacting to it.
AI may help assemble the pieces faster, but it still takes strong leaders to show people the picture.