AI Isn’t the Problem — Misalignment Is (What a LinkedIn Thread Taught Me in Real Time)

Most businesses don’t struggle with AI. They struggle with how work is organised — who owns what, where things live, and what “good” looks like. AI doesn’t fix that by itself. It either clears the noise… or it makes the noise louder, faster.

The post that took off (and what people really told me)

I put a post on LinkedIn expecting a normal bit of engagement. What I got was a proper thread — leaders, consultants, operators, people in the thick of it — all saying the quiet bit out loud.

And the recurring theme wasn’t “Which tool should I use?”

It was this:

That hit because it’s true.

Most businesses already have the ingredients:

• Good people
• Decent intent
• Hard work
• A growing curiosity about AI

But day-to-day work is often held together with:

• Inboxes
• WhatsApp threads
• “Ask Dave, he knows”
• Five different ways of doing the same task

So when you add AI on top of that… you don’t get clarity.

You get faster chaos.

That line got repeated back to me in different ways all over the comments.

Exactly.

AI is like turning the lights on. If the room’s a tip, you’ll see it quicker.

And that’s not a bad thing — it’s actually the start of improvement.

Because the win isn’t “more AI”.

The win is:

• Less admin
• Fewer repeat tasks
• Less time wasted
• More consistency
• People feeling less frazzled

That’s what GrowthZoneAI is built for.

The real gap isn’t capability — it’s ownership

Another thread theme was what I’d call decision ownership (but in GrowthZone words: who’s actually responsible for what).

People kept describing the same breakdown points:

You see it when:

• Something needs approving and no one’s sure who says yes
• An AI output looks “almost right” and everyone hesitates
• A customer query escalates and the team freezes
• The tool is there, but usage drops off because it’s unclear how it fits

That’s why I bang on about simple rules of engagement.

Not 40-page governance documents. Just things like:

• What do we use AI for?
• What don’t we use AI for?
• Who checks it?
• Where does the final version live?
• What does “good” look like here?

“Where do I even start?” is still the biggest pain point

This is the bit I loved — because it’s so honest.

People weren’t asking for a “digital transformation roadmap”.

They were asking:

That’s the real market signal.

Most business owners don’t want shiny. They want relief.

They want:

• Inbox under control
• A simple way to reply to common emails
• Templates that sound like them
• Less copy/paste
• Less reinventing the wheel every week

That’s why my offers are built around real tasks, not tech theatre: AI Power Hour, AI Efficiency Audit, Inbox & Admin Rescue Day, and simple workshops.

“Was this written by AI?” (and why that question misses the point)

One comment thread went there — the classic:

Here’s my take.

If I use AI tools to help me work faster, that doesn’t mean the thinking isn’t mine.

It means I’m doing what every business owner is trying to do:

• Get time back
• Reduce effort on repeat tasks
• Spend energy where it actually matters

AI doesn’t replace your voice — if you don’t let it.

The difference is whether you’re copying generic output or using tools to turn your real thinking into something clearer and quicker.

So what’s the takeaway?

If you’re reading this and thinking, “Aye, that’s us”… you’re not alone.

Here’s the GrowthZoneAI version of the answer:

1. 1.Get clear on the problem first (what’s the time-waster?)

1. 2.Fix one workflow (don’t boil the ocean)

1. 3.Add AI in the right place (support the process, don’t replace it)

1. 4.Keep people in control (AI helps — people decide)

That’s it.

Simple. Practical. No overcomplication.

If you want a hand

If you’re a North East business owner (or UK-wide) and you’re thinking “I just need this to feel less heavy” — that’s exactly what I do.

• AI Power Hour: one session, quick wins, practical prompts
• AI Efficiency Audit: find where the hours are disappearing
• Inbox & Admin Rescue Day: calm the chaos, build repeatable systems
• Workshops: simple AI for teams who don’t feel “techy”

Drop me a message or book a short call.

Because AI isn’t here to make work bigger.

It’s here to make work easier.