Last week, I spoke with an old friend and colleague who is a COO. She said, “Monica, I feel I am sinking in this sea of AI uncertainty, and I am late to the race. Everyone’s talking about agents and copilots. We’re still arguing about pilot scopes.”

I paused for a couple of minutes and then shared with her the story of the first time I learned to float. The instructor did not start with laps. She said, “Exhale. Trust the water. If you thrash, you sink. If you breathe, you float.” Five minutes later, I was not swimming Olympic lengths. I was simply not drowning. That was the win.

Leaders treat AI like a race when the first skill is floating. You don't need a perfect roadmap to get started. You need one safe lane, a clear breath, and the discipline not to thrash. From there, we practice strokes. Small tasks. Short feedback loops. Visible human judgment. Progress comes from technique, not heroics.

There is a Spanish dicho I love that my Dad always says:

We have to start small. Breathe. Then add a stroke or two. That is enough to get started in your AI journey.

THIS WEEK'S INSIGHTS:

• You can feel late and still start strong. Pick one repeatable task. Do that well.
• The firms pulling ahead focus on management habits: roles, guardrails, and measurement. Not model chasing. Microsoft+1
• We will keep it practical. Two myths to retire. The U.S. signals to watch. A simple SWIM runbook to keep your team above water and moving forward.

TRENDS:

Your team is learning to float. These signals indicate the lane lines, allowing you to swim with confidence.

• Frontier Firms show the blueprint. Microsoft’s 2025 Work Trend Index highlights organizations that pair AI with management habits like agent oversight, skills hiring, and ROI tracking. Technique over thrashing. Microsoft
• The Federal Playbook is setting the basics. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is advising U.S. agencies to govern AI use, name owners, and manage risk. Many companies are mirroring these basics for their own checklists. The White House
• NIST checklist you can borrow. The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Generative AI Profile outlines practical steps to make AI safer in the workplace. Use it for vendor reviews, team guardrails, and rollouts. NIST Publications
  
  

MYTH-BUSTER TIPS:

Let’s clear two common blockers so you can move forward.

Myth: The model matters more than management.
Reframe: Models don’t manage people. Managers do. Redesign roles, set clear rules, and measure the work.

Myth: We should wait until the rules are final.
Reframe: Waiting increases risk. Start with one low-risk use. Add a one-sentence disclosure. Keep a short log of human judgment. The basics are already set.

TOOLS TO EXPLORE

This week, try the following framework and Prompts to Steal to help you take action. These will help you move from floating to a few clean strokes. 

SWIM Framework

Here is an original framework I created that you might find helpful.

S - Scope the job
Pick one repeatable task. Write success in one sentence. Example: “Send a clear client follow-up within 10 minutes that answers the question and proposes next steps.”

W - Write the guardrails
Make a small box: Allowed, Not Allowed, Must Disclose. Add a line for “W’ Add a line for “What the human decided.”

I - Instrument the test
Choose two metrics. Time saved and rework rate are a strong start. Name who signs off.

M - Move, then learn
Run 5 to 10 real cases. Debrief with Keep, Change, Why. Update prompts and the policy note.

ProTip: When work is high-stakes, pair your review with the SKYE framework I shared in last week’s newsletter.
Show • Keep/Change/Why • Your Defense • Elevate.

Prompts to Steal

Steal these prompts and use them in ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, Claude, or your company-approved platform. Doctor them up with your context.

1) Policy in a Box
“Act as an AI adoption coach. I will describe one workflow. Return an ‘Allowed | Not Allowed | Must Disclose’ box, one sentence disclosure for users to complete, three acceptable prompts, three not acceptable prompts with reasons, and a five-minute oral check outline for managers.”

2) Fast Metrics
“You are an ops analyst. Design a simple scorecard for this workflow with two outcome metrics and one risk metric. Include how we will collect each metric and a weekly review ritual in five bullets.”

3) Keep, Change, Why Debrief
“Summarize this draft with a Keep, Change, Why table. End with three edits that elevate voice, clarity, or originality.”

4) Agent Guardrails
“You are a compliance partner. For the task below, list sensitive data to avoid, red flag outputs to reject, and a short escalation path that non-lawyers can follow.”

👉🏽 What is the first task you will run through SWIM to prove value in under an hour?

CLOSING THOUGHT

Float first.

Choose one lane.

Technique beats thrashing.

Small strokes, steady breath, shared wins.

¡Hasta la próxima, un abrazo fuerte!
(Until next week, a big hug!)

Monica Marquez

When You're Ready...

Here’s how I can help you and your organization take your leadership and professional growth to the next level:

Speaking: I deliver engaging, high-impact keynotes and workshops on AI-driven leadership, personal branding, career advancement, and transformation. Whether it's a corporate event, leadership summit, or industry conference, I bring practical insights and strategies that empower professionals to thrive in today's rapidly evolving world.

Learning & Development Consulting: I partner with organizations to design and implement learning experiences that drive real impact. From AI-powered career development programs to leadership training tailored to their talent, I help companies advance their workforce and create growth opportunities for high-potential professionals.

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