In the AI Age, Determination is One Step Closer to Character-Based Leadership
As artificial intelligence reshapes how decisions are made, a deeper question is emerging for leadership: Will we lead A.I., or will it lead us?
That question surfaced unexpectedly during a brainstorming exchange with my colleague Michael. Normally, our conversations end with ten quick notes summarizing ideas we’ve talked through.
This time, his email was different. Instead of ten lines, it was an outline, nearly a small book.
At the center of it was one question he posed: Will we lead artificial intelligence—or will it lead us?
During our recent trip to Tanzania, I spoke at the Global Leadership Forum with CRU on two university campuses. Even though all four presenters had slightly different focuses for our presentations, we all emphasized the importance of character as a key differentiator.
We also discussed this AI question – Will we lead artificial intelligence—or will it lead us?
In addition to the forum, we enjoyed experiencing the beauty of Tanzania, the majesty of exotic animals, and the culture of the Bushman and Masai tribes.
The more I thought about it, the clearer it became. This question: Will we lead artificial intelligence, or will it lead us? – isn’t a technology question. It’s a leadership question, and leadership in the age of AI looks different.
It’s about attention. Ethics. Judgment. And who, or what, ultimately shapes our decisions.
We now live in an AI-shaped world accelerating faster than most leaders can process. In this environment, speed and innovation are not enough.
Leaders will need something deeper. They will need strong character and a determination rooted in character, not convenience.
As many of us have personally experienced, determination without virtue can be dangerous. I’m sure you have “war stories” of having to deal with this kind of leader.
However, when shaped by character, determination becomes a force for good—steadying leaders when speed, pressure, and algorithms pull them toward easier choices.
Long before I understood leadership theory, I began learning determination on a North Dakota cattle ranch. I developed D.A.K.O.T.A. as an acronym to help me grasp and remember the Cardinal Virtues and the resulting character traits.
To learn about the D.A.K.O.T.A. Operating System, read the first article in the Character Matters series here: Leadership Character in the Age of AI
In the following updated and expanded excerpt from Millennials Matter, I share how those early experiences forged the kind of determination you need now more than ever. I share how my own roots on the Triple T Ranch in North Dakota forged this kind of determination from the inside out. Interestingly, this message aligns to what we experienced in working with the Masai leaders in Tanzania.
Millennials Matter: Proven Strategies for Building Your Next-Gen Leader
Chapter 3: Determination, One Step Closer to Character-based Leadership. (Updated excerpt from Millennials Matter)
There was nothing glamorous about my upbringing.
I grew up on a cattle ranch, not a movie star’s luxurious escape. It was more like what Laura Ingalls Wilder described in Little House on the Prairie. Our home was an 800-square-foot shack covered in tar paper, with no running water. Yes, I used an outhouse every day until I was thirteen!
My dad, whom I call “Super Dad,” worked three jobs to support our family and fuel my parents’ dream of owning a cattle ranch. My mom, or “Super Mom,” managed four kids under five. She washed clothes with a wringer machine, froze vegetables from our garden, picked berries to make jelly, raised geese, and more. Life was tough and exhausting.
As a child, I understood my parents worked hard to help us survive. A winter blizzard could leave us without power for weeks. It would be tragic to have no food or heat. I knew we could freeze to death if that happened.
In March 1966, the worst storm hit the Northern Plains. It was one of the most severe blizzards on record. One snowbank outside our house reached ten feet high. We were snowed in for a week and a half. About 74,500 cattle, 54,000 sheep, and 2,400 hogs died in that storm across the Northern Plains.
North Dakota was tough, but my parents had unshakable determination. They believed they could pursue their dreams and reach their goals, despite many hardships. They embodied the virtues of Fortitude, Hope, Temperance, and Faith. They were committed to their vision, facing physical challenges and financial setbacks. Their determination inspired me.
Many gave up under those harsh conditions, but my parents stayed and worked hard every day to achieve their goals. They made The TTT Ranch a reality, and it thrives today! It offers guests a warm, welcoming place to relax and enjoy nature. During hunting season, the land provides some of the best pheasant, sharptail, and whitetail hunting in all of Western North Dakota.
Who are the role models who inspired your determination? How did you learn this strength?
How to Build Determination in Your Next Gen Leader
No matter where your young mentees stand on the determination spectrum, how can we help them grow this strength?
Share Stories
Think about times you faced a difficult task. What kept you moving forward despite its demands?
- Reflect on the principles, skills, and mindsets you’ve developed over the years.
- Consider how your experiences might inspire your next-gen leader to overcome their obstacles.
- Share your story authentically. Talk about your fears and failures. Authenticity matters to them. They want to know what motivated you to push through discouragement. Was your failure a waste, or a valuable lesson?
- Ask your mentee how your experiences relate to their current situation. Listen and ask questions to understand their perspectives.
- Encourage them to share their stories of determination. Celebrate their journeys.
Clarify Values
I use a values tournament to help young leaders understand what matters to them. We start with sixty words, and through discussion, we narrow it down to their top five values. This clarity helps with:
- Values guide decisions. Millennials often base their choices on their internal compass rather than peer pressure.
- Values boost confidence. When they know their values and write them down, it’s easier to make and stick to wise choices.
- Values enhance emotional stamina. When faced with criticism, job loss, or exclusion, values help them determine their path. If they’re on the right path, they can get up and keep moving. If not, they can adjust and keep going.
Work Out the Determination Muscle
Strengthening determination takes time. Here are ways to build that muscle. It might start with a small commitment for thirty days:
- Go to the gym daily or set aside time for meditation daily. The point is to set aside a time, then keep it. Keep the promises you make to yourself.
- Practice a new skill track successes and failures.
These qualities are close to my heart. I remember the crazy stories of growing up without running water. I had to use the outhouse in any weather, whether it was 110 degrees or 10 degrees below. It nurtured grit, determination, and mental toughness! These are the qualities you can help build in your young leader.
Leadership Reflection on Determination
The discussion we had with the university students in Tanzania stays with me: Will we lead artificial intelligence, or will it lead us?
The answer will not be decided by technology. It will be decided by leaders like you. Leaders of character stay grounded when speed, convenience, and algorithms pull in other directions.
Determination rarely appears as dramatic heroism. It shows up in daily choices. Leaders stay steady. They think clearly. They lead with conviction when the easier path invites compromise.
Determination is, at its core, a character choice.
Virtue and Vice: The Tug-of-War Within
Growing up on a North Dakota cattle ranch taught me about determination long before I studied leadership. Life on the ranch required steady resolve. Winter storms buried fences. Survival depended on daily decisions to endure, adapt, and keep moving.
Where did you learn the importance of grit and determination (or as my Finnish ancestors call it, SISU)?
That kind of perseverance reflects the virtue of fortitude. Fortitude is courage and endurance under pressure.
Every virtue faces resistance. Determination is often challenged by the pull toward comfort – the pride of thinking we already know enough, and the urge to act quickly without wisdom. In a culture driven by speed and convenience, those pressures quietly weaken character and lead to an erosion of trust.
Determination calls you to choose:
- purpose over comfort
- humility over ego
- steady courage over impulsive reaction.
Determined Leadership in the Age of AI
I’m reminded…
Machines compute. Humans commit. Technology can process enormous amounts of data. But it cannot make moral choices. That responsibility still belongs to you, the leader.
Pressure and uncertainty reveal something important. Leaders either react to circumstances or determine the direction forward.
Determination ensures that you, the leader, sets the course, not the machine. Whether in USA or Tanzania.
Don’t miss our next article in the Character Matters series — Awareness. We’ll explore how wise leaders pause to see clearly before charging ahead in an AI-driven world.
Leadership Lesson: Determination fuels a courageous character that can withstand challenges, chaos, and uncertainty.
Leadership Question: What daily practice strengthens your determination when the easier path is calling?
© Danita Bye. Developed with AI assistance to enhance clarity and flow. Worked with Hemingway for readability.
su_box title=”Need fresh insights for your next podcast series? ” style=”soft” box_color=”#5c83c2″ title_color=”#262729″ radius=”6″]
Let’s discuss a tailor-made interview to meet your audience’s needs.
Virtual speaking event? No problem!
Check out my Speaker page HERE.
To schedule a call, contact me at danita@danitabye.com[/su_box]
No Comments