The Other AI That Matters Most In Building Credibility: Authentic Intelligence

Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about AI – no not that AI. I’m talking about Authentic Intelligence.

Having asked literally thousands of people the question, “What are the characteristics of the most credible person you’ve personally encountered?” as the opening of LRI’s credibility workshop for almost two decades, I can count on one hand the number of times the word “authentic” has not been mentioned. That has been true across cultures, industries, functions, levels, and any other variable.

Lately I’ve been struck by the dissonance between what I hear and read about the rise of AI-based coaching and management tools, and what I experience in the real world. When asked what those credible people actually did that caused people to perceive them as authentic, people respond with a wide variety of behaviors. My mental model for organizing those behaviors is LRI’s research-based model for Credibility is the 5 C’s.

Authenticity is the result when people lean into . . .

• Character: Are open about their values and behave in ways which were consistent with those values, even when they were different than the prevailing values of the environment in which that leader operated, or the specific values of the follower.  
• Courage: Stand up for what they believe, including being willing to be the lone voice on a topic.
• Personal and Professional Care for People: Demonstrate a genuine concern for other’s well-being or empathy for them as human beings. Often accompanied by an unwavering commitment to helping the people around them achieve their full potential.  
• Composure: Respond to a crisis as a person, not a robot. Perhaps a calm and collected person, perhaps a more excitable, action focused person, but a person—not a robot.  Look no further than the recent examples of the situation surrounding Air India and American Airlines, who released strikingly similar public statements about their recent crashes. I don’t have any idea whether the cause was AI, a template, a proven PR playbook, or some other cause. What I do know is that I’m left wondering about the authenticity of the messenger, and I’m guessing you are too.
• Competence: Know their stuff – both technically (AI use cases included), and managerially (demonstrate Authentic Intelligence).

It’s at this point that you might be getting close to writing me off as some sort of AI Luddite. But as someone who has seen tremendous benefits from using a number of AI tools myself, I know there are clearly many use cases for AI-supported approaches across all kinds of tasks, including leadership development. However, where I’m focused—because it’s where I’ve seen my clients respond most strongly—is on those moments when we’re able to act authentically with another person to create a powerful connection. Whether it’s subtle nuances, micro-expressions, tone, tenor, or simply the energy in the room, that human presence is often what creates the breakthrough moment.

So, my question to you is this: In a world where you’re hearing so much about AI—and likely devoting much, if not all, of your learning and development focus to integrating it into your everyday life—what are you doing to recognize and preserve the sometimes small but wildly powerful aspects of your interactions that require the other kind of AI: Authentic Intelligence?

Here are a few thoughts on how to keep Authentic Intelligence alive and make it an important part of your everyday interactions:

Embrace your humanity. Approaching each interaction with the mindset that you’re engaging with a whole person—not simply a resource, task manager, or achiever—is often enough to remind you to be human. As more and more of our interactions become automated—or, dare I say it, “artificial”—fully embodying this mindset will likely become increasingly challenging.

Think about use cases for both types of AI, and make a choice about which to employ based on the task at hand. For example, synthesizing the themes and key messages for a feedback or performance conversation is a great place to use artificial intelligence tools. But anything that sounds “artificial” in the conversation itself is a recipe for disaster.

Remember: when you’re communicating the themes and messages your AI tool helped you develop, you’re still talking to another human—someone who will likely respond more to the level of Authentic Intelligence you bring to the conversation than to how well the message was crafted. In fact, how the conversation goes, and what happens afterward, is very likely driven more by that sense of genuine human presence than by the content alone.

Pay attention to nuance. Context matters. AI tools are terrific at aggregating large amounts of data into usable content, advice, and themes. But by definition—since they’re built on large datasets—they’re not as effective at recognizing the specific nuances, contexts, hot buttons, and sensitivities that humans in authentic interaction can sense and respond to. The more unique the circumstance, the more essential your Authentic Intelligence becomes. 

It is my belief that as our world becomes increasingly AI-driven, our appetite for the other kind of AI—Authentic Intelligence—will only grow. It’s what reminds us that we’re not just users or systems. We’re people.

Where will you start to build your Authentic Intelligence?