Will You Lead the Future or Watch It Pass You By?
The future isn’t coming, it’s already here. The leaders who will thrive in 2025 aren’t sitting back, hoping to “ride it out.” They’re leaning in, embracing tools like AI and video, not to replace what makes them human, but to amplify it. But thriving in 2025 isn’t just about shiny tools or chasing trends, it’s about showing up with authenticity.
It’s about mastering 3 key strategies that will help you lead with impact while building connection and trust:
🔵 Using AI as your co-pilot
🔵 Making video your connection superpower
🔵 Building trust through thought leadership
Here’s how you can turn these strategies into action.
1. AI: The Mirror That Amplifies Your Strengths
Some see AI as a job stealer, others as a magic wand. I see it differently: AI is a mirror.
It reflects the intentions of those who use it. If you lean on AI to cut corners, it will expose the cracks in your foundation. But if you embrace it as a tool to amplify your strengths, your creativity, leadership, and ability to connect, it will help you soar.
Here’s what I mean. AI can write a LinkedIn post in 30 seconds, but only YOU can decide if that post tells the story of who you are. It can analyze trends faster than you can say “2025,” but only YOU can choose what truly matters to your audience.
AI isn’t here to replace you. It’s here to remind you what makes you irreplaceable.
For me, tools like CopyAndContent.AI and Jasper AI have been my co-pilot. They help me brainstorm, shape ideas, and create content, but they don’t replace my voice. And that’s the key: AI isn’t here to do your job. It’s here to give you back time so you can lead with impact.
Real talk: my son Jayden calls AI my “work babysitter.” And honestly? He’s not wrong. By taking on repetitive tasks, AI gives me the bandwidth to show up more fully for my family, my team, and my clients.
The takeaway for 2025: AI will never replace the human spark. Use it to save time but let your authenticity shine through. You are the connection!
2. Video: The Most Human Way to Lead Digitally
Video isn’t just “the next big thing.” It’s the thing.
LinkedIn videos are up 36% year-over-year, and with 75% of U.S. adults spending up to two hours a day watching short-form video, ignoring video isn’t an option, it’s a missed opportunity. But here’s what I’ve learned from my own content: it’s not about the views. It’s about the value.
Let me give you a real-world example. I posted a video on LinkedIn about Red Dye #3, something totally unrelated to business, and it hit nearly 5K views. The kicker? It sparked an authentic conversation in the comments that I never expected.
Now, let’s flip the script. I posted a video breaking down the economy and jobs report, something highly relevant to my audience. It hit 210K impressions with over 14K views, but the engagement? Way lower than I thought it’d be.
Here’s the lesson: the real magic happens when your video connects, not just when it performs. High numbers might catch your attention, but it’s the moments that spark conversations and build relationships that actually matter.
How to Nail Video in 2025:
🔵 Lead with a hook, those first 10 seconds make or break your video.
🔵 Ditch the script, people want YOU, not perfection.
🔵 Use captions, 80% of viewers are more likely to finish a video with subtitles.
Your challenge for 2025? Stop overthinking video. Use it to show your human side. Whether you’re talking about business, family, or something as random as Red Dye #3, let people see the real YOU. That’s how you build connection, trust, and leadership that lasts.
3. Thought Leadership: The Ultimate Trust Builder
Let’s get one thing straight: people don’t follow perfect leaders. They follow real ones.
Thought leadership isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about sharing the journey. It’s about showing up with stories, insights, and perspectives that inspire trust. And trust? That’s the currency of leadership.
Case in point: a Dopamine Dose edition about connection on LinkedIn sparked one of the most meaningful conversations I’ve had online. It wasn’t polished or strategic, it was honest. And that resonated.
How to lead with thought leadership in 2025:
🔵 Share lessons from failure, it’s where the best insights come from.
🔵 Ask questions that spark meaningful conversations.
🔵 Engage authentically, respond to comments, don’t just broadcast.
The 2024 Edelman-LinkedIn B2B Thought Leadership Impact Report found that 73% of decision-makers trust thought leadership over ads. Why? Because it’s real. It’s relatable. And it shows you’re more than just a pitch, you’re a person.
The 2025 mindset: Stop trying to be perfect. Start being present.
The Leadership Challenge for 2025
Here’s the reality: technology will keep evolving, but the leaders who thrive will be the ones who stay human.
So, here’s your challenge:
🔵 Use AI to create space for what matters most.
🔵 Use video to connect authentically and spark real conversations.
🔵 Lead with thought leadership to build trust and inspire action.
2025 isn’t about keeping up with trends, it’s about amplifying what makes you unforgettable. So, what’s your move? Drop your thoughts in the comments. Let’s make 2025 the year we lead with heart, authenticity, and connection.
📢 ICYMI: Did you catch my LinkedIn LIVE with Rachel B. Lee ?
AI, social media, leadership, and marketing are shifting everything we thought we knew, and if you’re not adapting, you’re falling behind.
Rachel had me on her LinkedIn LIVE, and we got straight to the point: no fluff, no gimmicks, just real strategies for leaders who are ready to step up and lead in this new landscape.
Here’s what we dove into:
🔵How to use AI as a tool without losing your humanity
🔵Why genuine relationships will always outperform flashy campaigns (trust is the currency of leadership)
🔵Meta’s bold move: The ripple effects of free speech and content regulation for brands, businesses, and leaders like you
📢 This isn’t just a conversation; it’s a call to action. Watch the replay and let’s make 2025 a year of real leadership and meaningful impact.