SME leaders have a never-ending to do list. They often end up taking on many roles within their business due to limited resources. Which is where Generative AI can make all the difference. By using this technology, leaders can free up time for what really matters. Dave Coplin, CEO and Founder of The Envisioners, outlines the four steps which every SME leader can take to get ahead with Generative AI.
You know exactly what it’s like. Every day, you wake up with a mountain of tasks that no one else seems to have to worry about. As a business leader, you’re not just the visionary – you’re also the accountant, marketer, IT support and customer service team all rolled into one. You’re living the reality of being a ‘jack-of-all-trades’, forced to wear every hat in your business because there simply isn’t the time or resources to delegate every role.
Every minute you spend on paperwork or routine admin tasks feels like a minute stolen from growing the heart of your business. And let’s be honest: while bigger companies have the luxury of specialised teams, you’re left wondering how you can possibly compete when you’re constantly fighting the clock just to keep the lights on.
Imagine a trusted, strategic advisor by your side that handles the mundane so you can zero in on the aspects of your business that only you can perfect. Picture a technology that streamlines routine tasks, extracts valuable insights from your data and sparks innovation – all while freeing you up to do what you do best.
That’s where Generative AI steps in. It’s not just another tool – it’s your chance to take back control, work smarter and create space for what truly matters. By leveraging AI, you can cut through the noise, free up your time and drive meaningful growth.
Unlocking the four key opportunities
If you’re nodding along because you know that every minute of your day is a constant battle against the clock, you’re not alone. For small- and medium-sized businesses, where resources are often stretched thin, AI shouldn’t be seen as a luxury – it’s a necessity. These four key opportunities can help you stay competitive and unlock new efficiencies:
Productivity: More than just automation
Generative AI enhances productivity not just by automating repetitive tasks, but by freeing up time for high-value work like innovation, customer engagement and business growth.
Insight: Uncovering hidden gems in your data
Generative AI unlocks powerful insight by transforming scattered data into a strategic asset, allowing you to ask questions in natural language and instantly uncover hidden opportunities to drive smarter decision-making.
Innovation: Empowering you to build your own solutions
Generative AI fuels innovation by empowering business leaders to rapidly prototype, test and refine ideas – bridging the gap between concept and implementation without the traditional barriers of cost, time or external expertise.
Quality: Elevating human experience
Generative AI enhances quality by working alongside you to refine processes, improve decision-making and elevate the human experience – ensuring technology empowers rather than replaces your expertise.
Bringing it all together
If you’ve spent any time at all with Generative AI, I suspect you already have some idea about how these four key areas might help you – but in my experience, many business leaders struggle to know where to start. The good news is that I think that there’s just four key things any business leader needs to do to jumpstart their own path to success with generative AI:
The opportunity cost of automation
Every minute you save by letting AI handle repetitive tasks isn’t just an extra minute – it’s an opportunity to focus on what truly matters. It’s not about doing more; it’s about doing what makes a difference.
To put this into practice, start by making a comprehensive list of your daily tasks. Next, identify which of these can be reliably automated by AI and which demand your unique human insight. By deliberately outsourcing the mundane to machines, you free yourself to concentrate on high-value activities that set you apart in the marketplace. In doing so, you not only boost productivity – you transform your entire approach, shifting from merely ‘doing more’ to ‘doing what matters’.
Harnessing your data as a competitive advantage
Your business generates data every day – data that, when illuminated, can be your most significant competitive advantage. While many of your competitors have access to the same Generative AI tools, only you possess the unique operational insights and customer knowledge that set you apart. By harnessing this data, you can uncover hidden patterns, anticipate market trends and make smarter, faster decisions that others simply can’t replicate.
Commit to auditing and refining your data collection processes. Invest the time to understand the story your data is telling and build a culture where data-driven decision-making is the norm. This isn’t just about keeping up – it’s about staying ahead. The businesses that win in 2025 will be the ones that don’t just collect data but know how to use it.
Experimentation and continuous learning
There is no one ‘right’ way to leverage AI – it’s an iterative journey. Constant experimentation is essential. Test new ideas, learn from every outcome and let each success (and even failure) sharpen your next approach. Build a culture within your organisation where curiosity and innovation are not just encouraged but expected.
Make experimentation a core part of your business strategy. Carve out dedicated time to test Generative AI tools on a small scale. Start with a few pilot projects that tackle routine challenges, then measure the outcomes and adjust your approach accordingly. Document your experiments and share insights within your team to build a learning culture that prizes agile innovation. In doing so, you transform every ‘failure’ into a lesson and every success into a foundation for even greater breakthroughs – ensuring that you not only keep pace with change but actually drive it.
It starts with you…
The real prize with Generative AI belongs to those who build a genuine relationship with this technology – seeing it not merely as another tool in your toolbox, but as a trusted colleague or strategic assistant. And getting that relationship right won’t happen by accident. It will only happen if you invest the time to learn where it shines, and where it falls short.
AI doesn’t replace humans – it elevates them. The businesses that will thrive in 2025 and beyond are those that embrace AI as an enabler of human potential. This isn’t about machines taking over; it’s about The Rise of the Humans – a world where humans and machines work together to become greater than the sum of their parts.
Your role as a business leader is more vital than ever. The time you free up with AI should be reinvested in creativity, strategy and relationships – things only you can do. The opportunity is here, but it starts with action. Experiment. Learn. Adapt.
The Rise of the Humans starts with you and it starts now!