Begin with Your AI Partner

Before prompts.

Before workflows.

Before strategies, systems, or scale.

The most important work anyone can do in the age of AI is to form a right relationship with their AI partner.

This Lagniappe is a short, step-by-step guide designed to help you do exactly that — before tools, techniques, or tactics take over.

It is not technical.
It does not require experience.
And it does not assume you want AI to replace your thinking.

Instead, it helps you:

• establish a healthy stance with AI
• clarify how you want to be helped
• avoid over-delegation and overwhelm
• increase your capacity without losing authorship
• begin working with AI, not under it

This guide is suitable whether you are:

• just beginning with AI
• already using it professionally
• creating, building, or transitioning
• or simply wanting to stay oriented in a rapidly changing world

Think of this as orientation, not instruction.
A starting point—not a system.

If you are joining us for the 2026 LeadU R&D Sprint, this is the best place to begin.
If you are not, it will still serve you well.

Take your time.
Start where you are.
And let the relationship form before the work accelerates.