Here’s the scenario.
You’re a strong, mid-level manager. You’ve been tagged as “high potential.” And now you’ve been given
There’s just one problem.
You’re not an AI expert.
Yes, you’ve experimented. You’ve used a few tools. You’ve automated some small tasks. But if you’re honest, you don’t feel remotely qualified to stand up in front of your peers and say, “Here’s the plan.” Your first instinct is to thank your manager for the opportunity… and then politely suggest that you’re not the right person for the job.
But then it hits you.
Your manager’s response is going to be: “Exactly. I picked you because I want you to figure it out.”
Now you’re on the hook.
You have to make something out of nothing.
And that, whether we like it or not, is a critical leadership skill in 2026.
In a post-COVID world, the companies that win will be the ones that build competitive advantage through leaders who can figure things out. Not because they have all the answers, but because they know how to create clarity where none exists.
Whether you’re developing an AI adoption strategy, rethinking a broken cash-flow process, or responding to a market shift no one anticipated, organizations will continue to need critical thinkers who can make progress without a playbook.
Based on years of experience and what we’re seeing across our business simulations and client work, here is a simple model you can apply anytime you’re asked to make something out of nothing.
1) Start With the Business Problem, Not the Tool
The fastest way to lose credibility is to lead with technology.
AI is not the strategy. Productivity, efficiency, cost reduction, speed, quality, decision effectiveness, etc. are.
Before you talk about tools, get crystal clear on:
When you frame the conversation around business pain points, you shift from “I’m learning AI” to “I’m solving real problems.”
2) Build a 70% Answer and Move
Waiting for certainty is just procrastination with better branding. You don’t need a perfect roadmap. You need a directionally correct one.
Create a first-pass view that answers:
Leaders who make something out of nothing don’t wait to be right; they move early, learn fast, and adjust.
3) Learn in Public (and Invite Help)
High-potential leaders don’t pretend. They orchestrate.
Be explicit:
“Here’s what I know. Here’s what I’m testing. Here’s where I want input.”
Talk to:
You are not expected to be the expert. You are expected to connect the dots.
4) Translate Everything Into Impact
No one funds curiosity. They fund outcomes.
Every idea should ladder up to:
Even rough estimates matter. They signal business acumen and force prioritization. This is where “interesting ideas” become “fundable initiatives.”
5) Turn the Assignment into a Repeatable Muscle
The real win isn’t the AI roadmap.
The real win is proving to yourself and others that you can walk into ambiguity and create momentum.
Once you’ve done it once, you can do it again:
Thinking about Application
Making something out of nothing is not a one-time event. It’s a leadership capability.
In 2026, the most valuable leaders won’t be the ones with the best answers. They’ll be the ones who know how to build answers when no one has handed them one yet.
That’s not just a stretch assignment.
That’s a career-defining skill.