#425: Unlocking AI’s Potential: How Leaders Can Achieve 10x Productivity
7 Actionable Steps to Lead the AI Revolution in Your Industry
Leaders worldwide are leveraging AI to enhance efficiency and profitability. People everywhere are scared that AI will replace them, and what will we do with all of these unemployed people?
I’m a believer that AI will help the world accelerate in every way, and leaders need to start thinking not about how AI can help one person be 90% efficient, but rather how one person can be 10 times more productive.
To understand how far AI can take us, let’s look back at how sales worked before technology transformed it.
My career started as an “outside” salesman in the mid-1980s. I was given the keys to a Chevy Celebrity and a territory that spanned 22 States. In the trunk of that car were road maps for each of those states, and a box full of very large, heavy books called The Harris Publishers guides for manufacturers. Every night, I would take the corresponding Harris guide and maps into my hotel room, look up the cities I would be passing through, and search for any industry that might use the hook and loop fasteners I sold. Armed with a box of business cards, brochures, and samples, I would make physical cold calls all day, every day, and sweet-talking my way past the receptionist to meet with a manufacturing engineer or R&D manager.
I was considered successful and I won the Salesperson of the Year Award twice in my first four years, and then promoted to Regional Manager. I often wonder how productive I could have been with today’s tools. Today we have apps to help us route planning and CRM software that has turned this process into a few manual clicks. Tomorrow, it will be used as a prompt for an AI Agent. Does it replace the sales rep? No, it makes them more productive. It has opened up opportunities for the factory that supports the representative to increase business faster, expand capacity, hire more laborers, and develop new products that are even more appealing to buyers.
Leaders in the past hoped for 2-3% growth above inflation, now we should be planning for 20-30%. Leaders need to focus on workforce expansion, not contraction.
What are you planning for?
If you are only looking at cost-cutting measures for AI implementation, you are missing the genius of those capabilities. You might want to be asking yourslef how can you go from a 50,000 Sq Foot facility to a 500,000? Are you going to open more factories around the world? Where will you get the finances to meet your newfound demand?
If you aren’t planning for expansion with these new tools, your competition is. And guess how they will expand? By beating you.
Actionable Steps for Leaders to Prepare for the AI Revolution
To harness AI’s potential for exponential growth, leaders must adopt a proactive, expansive mindset. Here are the key steps to prepare:
Redefine Productivity Metrics
Shift focus from incremental efficiency gains to transformative productivity. Train teams to leverage AI for tasks like predictive analytics, personalized customer outreach, and automated workflows. For example, AI-driven CRM systems can now analyze customer behavior in real-time, enabling sales teams to prioritize high-value leads with precision. Set ambitious KPIs that target a 10x increase in output per employee, not just cost savings.
Invest in Scalable Infrastructure
Plan for physical and digital expansion. Assess whether your current facilities, supply chains, and IT systems can handle a surge in demand. For instance, if AI optimizes your production line to increase output by 20%, can your logistics network keep up? Start exploring partnerships or financing options now to fund new factories, warehouses, or cloud-based solutions.
Upskill Your Workforce for AI Collaboration
AI doesn’t replace workers, it amplifies them. Invest in training programs to teach employees how to work alongside AI tools. Sales teams should learn to utilize AI for lead scoring and market analysis, while manufacturing staff can leverage AI for predictive maintenance. Create a culture where employees see AI as a partner, not a threat.
Anticipate Market Expansion
AI enables faster market penetration and product innovation. Identify new markets or customer segments that AI-driven insights reveal. For example, an AI analysis of global demand trends might uncover untapped regions for your products. Develop strategies to scale marketing and distribution to these areas before competitors do.
Secure Financial Backing for Growth
Exponential growth requires capital. Engage with investors, banks, or venture capital firms to secure funding for expansion. Prepare data-driven pitches that demonstrate how AI-driven productivity can boost ROI. For instance, explain how AI can reduce time-to-market for new products, attracting investor confidence.
Monitor Competitors and Innovate Relentlessly
Use AI tools to track competitor strategies in real-time. Platforms like web scrapers or sentiment analysis on social media can reveal competitors’ moves. Stay ahead by fostering a culture of rapid innovation, encouraging teams to experiment with AI for new product development or process optimization.
Build a Resilient Supply Chain
AI can optimize supply chains, but rapid growth can put a strain on them. Use AI for demand forecasting and inventory management to avoid bottlenecks. Partner with suppliers early to ensure they can scale with you. For example, AI can predict raw material shortages, allowing you to secure contracts before prices spike.
By planning for these steps, leaders can position their organizations to ride the AI wave, not just survive it. The question isn’t whether AI will transform your industry, it’s whether you’ll lead the transformation or be outpaced by those who do.
At the Kole Performance Group, we help leaders transform their organizations. Partner with us to turn AI’s potential into your competitive edge. Contact us today to start building your future-ready organization.