Generative Isn't Just for AI
You need to be creating in every area of your career.
Everyone’s talking about generative AI right now.
So naturally when you think of the word “generative,” you automatically associate it with AI.
ChatGPT, Claude, etc. They all generate things for you. But being generative shouldn’t be something that’s limited to AI.
We all need to be generative all of the time.
How I’m Being Generative
The first thing is that I share ideas constantly. I don’t want to wait until my ideas are perfect. I share rough ideas early and often. I’m sharing my ideas with you in this article right now. Most of my ideas aren’t good, and that’s okay. But when your team sees you thinking creatively, it gives them the freedom to do it too. And then you never know what you can achieve.
The second thing about being generative is moving from ideas to action more quickly. Taking too long simply kills your momentum. Now I ask myself: What’s the smallest thing I can try right now? I build prototypes. I test things. I learn by doing and not by planning perfectly.
I make things with my own hands. And I know this sounds small and you might not want to do it in your own life, but it’s been such an eye-opening experience for me. I use AI tools, but I also design things myself. I write things using AI, but I also write things by hand with a pen and paper. When my team sees me making things (even messy things) they feel permission to do the same.
Being generative is most useful when you’re creating something that really matters. So I stop myself regularly and ask: Why are we doing this? Who does it help? Does this really matter? These questions keep me honest and they help me focus on what’s real. Sometimes I just experiment; not everything needs a business case. Sometimes I try something just because I’m curious. Some of my best ideas come from projects that have no real purpose at first. Playing matters.
Fitting Generation into my Day
Firstly, I block time in my calendar just for creating; no emails, no meetings, just thinking and making.
I also reward my team when they try new things, even if those things fail. Especially if they fail, actually, because that’s how we learn.
I build things with my team instead of just telling them what to do. We create together. My half-finished ideas are out there for everyone to see. It feels vulnerable, but it invites people in.
I make small things often. Small wins build energy. Energy builds more energy. And that’s momentum that just doesn’t stop.
What I’ve Seen When Leaders Stop Generating
When leaders stop creating they only manage what exists. They use old systems. They protect their history instead of moving on to newer and better things. And gradually they become irrelevant. Their teams lose energy and people start leaving.
And I don’t want that.
👋 Want to Learn More?
If you want to go deeper, I’ve put together resources to help:
LinkedIn Guide: Optimize Your Profile for Success
How to use the 80:20 rule to get more done in less time.
What I’m Committing To
I’m choosing to be perpetually generative. Not because it’s trendy, not because AI made it a buzzword, but because it’s how I stay alive and how I keep contributing. It’s how my team stays engaged and how we build something that truly matters.
I’m going to keep generating ideas. I’m going to keep turning those ideas into action. I’m going to make things with my hands, and I’m going to do it today, this week, next month, and next year.
The leaders I admire don’t have all the answers but they’re the ones who never stop asking questions, who never stop creating, who never stop generating what comes next.
That’s who I want to be.
Being generative isn’t just for AI; it’s for all of us.
👋 No more Powerpoint(!)
Have you heard of the Amazon 6 Pager Memo? It’s what Jeff Bezos uses to keep his mega-company productive. But it works so well that I use it for project management. Thousands of others do too. If you want my personal Amazon 6 Pager Memo template you can find it here.
Well said. My only note is that being a great leader does not require you to fingerpaint with the interns. The creativity will most likely be different, and often not visible to the majority of those they serve, but it is still essential to both their personal and professional development. I agree fully with your closing statement. "The leaders I admire don’t have all the answers, but they’re the ones who never stop asking questions, who never stop creating, who never stop generating what comes next." Even if it is not readily visible to the wandering eye.
I totally agree with this post! Very real and true.