Start with the problem, not the tool

A lot of conversation about AI is wasted on how great it is. It is more productive to find the real problems by talking to the people doing the work. AI strategy comes from the C-suite, but work priorities should come from the front lines.

“Take a problems-first approach. Don’t carry a tool around looking for problems. Find the problems, then the tool to fix them.”

“As a business owner, I struggle to build a good LinkedIn presence.” So the problem is clear: I need a tool that analyzes my market and tells me what that page should look like. Describe the problem the way a marketing manager or controller would, hand it to Claude, and ask for recommendations.

Start small, too. A web form that captures data, sends invites and books a calendar is a project for later, not a first one. A daily brief that surfaces what needs your attention is a better start.

“Start small. A web form that captures data, sends invites and books a calendar is not where you start. That’s later down the line.”