Starbuck Academy · Grow
Leading with AI
A calm, practical guide to AI for managers and leaders
A practical programme for managers and leaders who are not technical specialists and want to use AI tools wisely and lead their teams through the change. In ten video lessons you learn how to use these tools well yourself, keep people and data safe, spot where they could help your team, and keep the human side of leadership at the centre.
Why this matters for leaders
Generative AI tools are arriving in everyday work, and people are looking to their managers for a steady, sensible lead. You do not need to be technical to give one. What you need is a clear sense of what these tools are good and bad at, good habits for using them safely, and the confidence to talk openly with your team about the change. This programme gives you all three, with a practical tool for each step.
Who it is for
For managers, team leaders and senior leaders who are not technical specialists and want to use AI tools wisely and help their teams do the same. It suits leaders who are curious, cautious or somewhere in between, and it works alongside the free AI Coach Hub.
What you will be able to do
- Explain in plain language what generative AI tools are good and bad at
- Use AI as a thinking partner and write clear, useful prompts
- Check output for accuracy, bias and fit, keeping judgement with you
- Protect people and data by following your organisation's policy
- Spot where AI could help your team, and where it should not be used
- Lead your team through the change fairly, with shared principles and a plan
Ten lessons
What leaders need to know about AI
What generative AI tools are in plain language, what they tend to do well and where they fall short.
Using AI as a thinking partner
Using AI to help you think, test your ideas and prepare for conversations, without handing over your judgement.
Good questions and clear prompts
Briefing a tool clearly with five parts, inviting it to question you, and refining the answer in your own voice.
Checking what comes back
Checking output for accuracy, bias and fit, and keeping decisions and accountability clearly your own.
Data, confidentiality and policy
Following your organisation's policy, protecting personal data and never sharing sensitive information with unapproved tools.
Where AI could help your team
Starting from the work, sorting tasks with your team, and recognising work that should stay human.
Leading people through the change
Making space for honest concerns, building skills and confidence, and keeping the change fair.
Keeping the human side of leadership
Protecting coaching, judgement, relationships and the time that the most important parts of leading need.
Running a safe, small experiment
Designing a small, low risk trial with clear boundaries, simple checks and an honest review.
Your team's AI plan and principles
Writing shared principles and a short plan with your team, within your organisation's policy.
What is included
Ten short video lessons you can watch on any device, workbook pages and a practical tool for every lesson, the full Leading with AI workbook to download, a five-question knowledge check per lesson, a certificate of completion showing 6 estimated learning hours, and 12 months’ access. An annual subscription of £149 per person, per year inc. VAT.
How your learning time adds up
Your 6 estimated learning hours are made up across ten lessons of about 36 minutes each:
- Watching the ten short lesson videos: about 30 minutes (about 3 minutes each)
- Reading the lesson notes and workbook pages: about 1 hour 40 minutes (10 minutes each)
- Working through the practical tool for each lesson: about 1 hour 40 minutes (10 minutes each)
- Planning and carrying out each workplace task: about 1 hour 40 minutes (10 minutes each)
- Completing the five-question knowledge check after each lesson: about 30 minutes (3 minutes each)
Total: 6 estimated learning hours.
Knowledge checks: every lesson or module ends with a short multiple choice knowledge check. The pass mark is 80% and you can retake a knowledge check as many times as you need.
Who designed it
This programme was designed by ICF credentialed coaches at Starbuck & Associates, led by Paul Starbuck, our Founder and CEO and an ICF Master Certified Coach (MCC). Every lesson draws on our coaching and leadership development work with organisations in the UK, Europe and around the world, and each programme is reviewed regularly to keep it current.
Before you start
This course is general learning and development content and is not professional advice. Always follow your own organisation’s policies, and take specialist advice on legal, medical, financial or HR matters.
