Five capabilities every leader needs to thrive in the age of AI — and how to develop them.
73%
of leaders feel underprepared for AI
AI is transforming every industry at speed. The leaders who succeed won't be those who know AI best — they'll be those who use it most wisely.
Five dimensions of AI leadership
The CLEAR model from Leading in the Age of AI (Richard Butler, Jörg Nitschmann, Manfred Becking)
C
Co-Thinking Mindset
L
Limits of AI
E
Exposure to AI
A
Attention to Behaviour
R
Reclaiming Time
C
Dimension 1 · CLEAR
Co-Thinking Mindset
Think with AI as a strategic partner — not just a tool that answers questions. The shift from “what does AI know?” to “what can we figure out together?” is where real value is unlocked.
“Most leaders use AI like a search engine. The best use it like a thinking partner.”
L
Dimension 2 · CLEAR
Limits of AI
Know precisely where AI adds value — and where it doesn't. Great AI leaders can confidently say “AI can handle that” and equally “this one stays human.”
“AI excels at pattern-matching. It struggles with wisdom, nuance, and the genuinely novel.”
E
Dimension 3 · CLEAR
Exposure to AI
Regular, direct, personal use of AI — not second-hand knowledge. You can't lead what you haven't experienced. Daily experimentation builds instincts no course can teach.
“Leaders who use AI every day develop an edge that's almost impossible to close from the outside.”
A
Dimension 4 · CLEAR
Attention to Behaviour & Culture
Mindsets and norms make or break AI adoption. Leaders model the right behaviours, set the tone for their team, and create the conditions for safe, ambitious AI experimentation.
“Technology is never the bottleneck. Culture always is.”
R
Dimension 5 · CLEAR
Reclaiming Time
Delegate the right tasks to AI and refocus on what only you can do: strategy, relationships, creative judgement. Time is the most valuable leadership resource.
“Every hour AI saves a leader is an hour they can invest in what truly matters.”
The CLEAR Model at a Glance
C
Co-Thinking
Think with AI as a strategic partner
L
Limits of AI
Know where AI helps and where it doesn't
E
Exposure
Daily direct practice builds real instinct
A
Attention
Shape your team's AI culture & norms
R
Reclaiming Time
Delegate to AI; focus on what only you can do
Where do you stand?
Assess yourself across all five CLEAR dimensions in under 10 minutes. Get a personalised score, focus areas, and a development plan.