The Non-Techie’s Guide to AI: What Coding with AI Taught Me About Leadership Communication
Last week, I shared about how I’m embarking on a new learning journey to Code with AI (you can check it out here). This journey is about more than learning tech; it’s about mastering the skills to lead in an AI-driven future. My goal is to bridge the gap between strategy and execution—to ask the right questions, give clear directions, and unlock more value. Because in a world shaped by AI, connecting vision with technical fluency is what sets great leaders apart.
When I started the Coding with AI course, I braced myself for mind-bending algorithms and endless lines of code.
The surprising discovery was this:
My biggest challenge wasn’t technical—it was learning how to communicate effectively with AI.
In other words, I had to learn how to ‘speak AI’.
Language Is the Bridge Between Ideas and Execution
AI is incredibly powerful.
It’s also incredibly literal.
Tools like ChatGPT by OpenAI and Claude by Anthropic don’t “read between the lines” the way a human might, and this creates a critical gap in how we communicate with them. Through my experience, I discovered two key observations about communication and AI:
Observation 1: Clear, simple prompts are essential
If your instructions are vague or overly complex, you’ll get results that are inefficient and error-prone.
Initially, I expected tools like ChatGPT and Claude to be intuitive, almost mind-reading. After all, they’re built to assist humans, right? But as I quickly learned, if my prompts were unclear or overcomplicated, the results reflected it—and the problem wasn’t the AI.
It was me.
For example, when we had homework to build prompts for Claude, I kept running into errors. Even after breaking tasks down into smaller steps, the results weren’t what I expected. The issue wasn’t just clarity; it was how I framed my requests.
It was a case of miscommunication—like giving unclear onboarding instructions to a new team member and being surprised when they get confused.
The Breakthrough: Using AI to simplify my prompts
I decided to leverage ChatGPT to refine my instructions for Claude.
My goal was simple: to create prompts that Claude would actually understand, just like refining guidance for a new hire so they know exactly what’s expected.
Here’s the prompt I used:
“Help me rewrite prompts for Claude Artifacts. I will give you the prompts, and you will simplify them so Claude can process them effectively.”
Here’s an example of how it worked for a Pomodoro timer tool I built:
My Original Prompt: “Please implement customizable timer settings for the Pomodoro timer app. Allow users to set their preferred work intervals and break durations using an intuitive interface. Include options for short and long breaks, and ensure that changes update the timer dynamically.”
Refined Prompt (via ChatGPT): “Enhance the Pomodoro timer to include customizable settings for work and break intervals.”
The results? Fewer errors, faster responses, and far less frustration.
Communicating with Claude—and the aha moment with ChatGPT—taught me this: clarity in language, whether with AI or humans, is the foundation of a successful team.
Observation 2: Understanding the language of developers is equally important
It’s not just about writing better prompts.
A basic grasp of core coding concepts—like APIs, frameworks, and components—can unlock new ways to build with tools like Replit Agent or Cursor and frame better requests.
For example, when building a CRM (customer relationship management system), knowing how APIs connect systems and frameworks structure interfaces helped me clarify my needs and uncover where automation could add value. Without this context, I risked miscommunication—just like a leader unfamiliar with their team’s processes.
You don’t need to master every term, but understanding the language of developers makes coding with AI more effective.
The more fluent you are, the better aligned your goals will be with what the tools can deliver.
Lessons Learned About Leadership Through Language
The way you work with AI reflects broader leadership principles, like clarity, adaptability, and collaboration. Here are three leadership lessons I’ve taken from my experience thus far:
1. Clarity is Everything
Whether you’re working with AI or leading a team, the clearer your instructions, the better the results. AI doesn’t intuit meaning so you have to articulate exactly what you need.
AI Lesson: Refine your prompts to be specific and actionable. If the results aren’t what you expect, adjust and simplify your instructions.
Leadership Parallel: When giving feedback to a team member, vague guidance creates confusion. Clear, actionable directions build trust and drive results. The same is true with AI.
2. Adaptability is Key
When my first prompts didn’t work, I didn’t give up. I iterated. I refined. I tested.
I found a hack!
This process of trial and error wasn’t just about improving the prompts—it was about improving how I approached problem-solving. Just like working with a new team, I needed to adapt quickly when things didn’t go as planned.
AI Lesson: If something isn’t working, don’t blame the tool. Iterate until you find what works.
Leadership Parallel: In complex projects, no plan survives first contact. Great leaders adapt quickly, learn from feedback, and make adjustments as needed.
3. Collaboration Isn’t Just Human-to-Human
The most surprising part of my journey was realizing that collaboration isn’t just for people—it’s for AI, too.
By using ChatGPT to help me “talk” to Claude, I created a feedback loop where one AI became my assistant for working with another. It was a simple but powerful example of how tools can amplify each other’s strengths.
AI Lesson: Leverage AI tools together to get better results. Use one tool to simplify, translate, or refine instructions for another.
Leadership Parallel: Effective leaders know how to harness the strengths of their teams. Similarly, effective AI users know how to combine tools to maximize impact.
The Bottomline
AI doesn’t “just get it,” and neither do people. Whether you’re leading a team or working with AI, clear communication is the bridge between ideas and execution.
Mastering the language of AI and technology isn’t just a skill—it’s a leadership advantage. The more fluent you become, the more impact you’ll create in an AI-driven future.
Go for it!
Joselle
Want to Take Your Leadership to the Next Level?
Whenever you’re ready, there are two ways I can help you:
1️⃣ Strategy & Planning Bootcamp
Seats are limited! Don’t miss this chance to master the strategic mindset, problem-solving skills, and decision-making frameworks used by top leaders and consultants to drive business success.
In this live, 3-week course, you’ll learn practical strategy frameworks and problem-solving techniques that apply to any business, industry, or leadership role.
👉 [Secure your spot here today before it fills up!]
2️⃣ Strategy Toolkit
Get started now with the essential resource for strategic leaders. These frameworks and communication techniques will help you articulate ideas, drive discussions, and lead with presence immediately.
👉[Explore the toolkit here.]