My leadership team is constantly chasing the latest AI tools but we have nothing to show for it except high subscription bills. How can we use disciplined Thinking Time to make smarter technology bets?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

The sheer volume of new AI tools is overwhelming, leading to shiny object syndrome and a high dumb tax in the form of wasted software subscriptions and distracted teams. To stop this, your leadership team must adopt Keith Cunningham's practice of disciplined Thinking Time.

Before purchasing any new tool or launching an AI initiative, the leadership team must step away from their screens for forty-five minutes of quiet contemplation. Use this time to answer a specific, high-value question: How might we integrate AI into our core processes so that we can reduce delivery times by fifty percent without increasing our error rate?

This framing forces you to focus on outcomes rather than features. Once you have clarity, bring the issue to your next Level 10 Meeting™. Use the IDS® process to evaluate if the tool directly supports your V/TO® and 1-Year Plan.

If a tool does not directly improve your scorecard metrics or strengthen your core differentiators, do not buy it. By filtering all technology decisions through structured Thinking Time, you ensure that every dollar spent on AI is an investment in operational efficiency, not a distraction from your core business goals.