How to Use AI for Leadership, Employee Coaching, and Development with Jon Harmeling

Can AI for leadership help you give your people more attention? In this episode Chris sits down with Jon Harmeling, a Chick-fil-A Operator, Army veteran, and former West Point instructor, to explore how leaders can turn AI productivity gains into better employee coaching and development. Drawing on his restaurant experience and his book, Frontline AI Leadership, Jon shares a practical framework: Machines do. Managers decide. Leaders develop.

Chris and Jon discuss using AI to track employee goals, recognize overlooked contributions, prepare for difficult conversations, and follow through on commitments. They also examine how to measure real AI time savings, reduce context switching, and keep human judgment at the center of workplace automation. 

Listen to learn how to reinvest the time AI creates in stronger relationships and more intentional leadership.

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction
(06:06) Management vs. Leadership and the AI Capacity Dividend
(15:51) Making Time for Employee Coaching and Development
(18:44) Reducing Context Switching When Working with AI
(20:37) Measuring Real AI Time Savings and Accountability
(23:28) Frontline AI Adoption, AI Search, and Data Privacy
(27:49) From AI Agents to Writing Frontline AI Leadership
(33:01) Machines Do. Managers Decide. Leaders Develop.
(35:50) Tracking Employee Goals with AI
(39:22) AI Scheduling and the Limits of Automation
(41:19) Preparing for Difficult Conversations with AI

Resources:

🔎 Find Out More About Jon Harmeling:

Website:
https://www.jonharmeling.com 

Frontline AI Leadership Book:
https://www.jonharmeling.com/book 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HNDTHR36 

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonharmeling/

X:
https://x.com/JonHarmeling

🛠 AI Tools and Resources Mentioned:

Claude and Claude Cowork:
https://claude.com/product/cowork

ChatGPT:
https://chatgpt.com

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