By Jevon Wooden

We’re at a crossroads in leadership.

On one side, there’s an explosion of artificial intelligence tools that promise to streamline decision-making, predict outcomes, and automate tasks. On the other hand, there’s a growing call for deeper empathy, emotional intelligence, and human connection in the workplace.

Many leaders feel they have to make a choice. I believe the future belongs to those who do both—who lead with heart and harness innovative tools to amplify their impact.

The key is to integrate AI—augmented intelligence—into leadership through an empathetic lens. To guide this process, I utilize the 5Y Framework, which I developed and expanded upon in my book, From Functional to Phenomenal (read more here).

What is the 5Y Framework?

The 5Y Framework is a leadership and business operation model designed to help professionals level up with purpose and emotional intelligence. It includes:

• Yardstick – Set your standard. Clarify your values and understand how you define success.
• Yield – Know where to invest your time, energy, and attention for maximum ROI.
• Yare – Be agile, prepared, and ready to act with clarity in moments that matter.
• Yoga – Stay flexible in thought, open to new ideas, and adaptable to change—mental agility and curiosity fuel sustainable leadership.
• Yearn – Lead with passion and purpose. What impact do you want to make—and who are you becoming along the way?

Let’s explore how empathetic leaders can pair each “Y” with AI for smarter, more human-centered leadership.

1. Yardstick: Use AI to Measure What Matters

In a data-saturated world, AI can pull metrics on almost anything. But empathetic leaders pause and ask: Are we measuring what aligns with our values, or just what’s easy to quantify?

For example, a team might exceed its KPIs while burning out. An AI-powered dashboard might reveal performance spikes, but a leader grounded in empathy knows to ask: What’s this success costing us?

Try this:

Reflection question: “What am I currently measuring that doesn’t align with the team culture I want to build?”

Use AI to surface patterns, but let your yardstick—your core values—guide you on what truly matters.

2. Yield: Use AI to Focus on What Deserves Your Energy

You can’t be everywhere. AI can help you be where you matter most.

For instance, a sales leader I worked with was drowning in reporting tasks. By using an AI-powered CRM to automate follow-up tracking and a transcription service to take notes during her calls, she reclaimed 6 hours a week, which she reinvested in team coaching. Her team’s close rate improved, not because of more AI, but because of more her.

Try this: Let AI handle meeting summaries or agenda creation, so you can focus on building rapport and unlocking your team’s potential.

Ask yourself: “Where am I spending energy that someone or something else could handle?”

3. Yare: Use AI to Stay Ready and Responsive

“Yare” is a nautical term that means agile, quick to respond, and well-prepared. In leadership, readiness is everything, and AI can play a significant role.

For example, one HR leader I advised started using AI sentiment analysis on anonymous feedback surveys. It detected a subtle increase in negative language regarding remote work policies. She didn’t wait for a mass exodus—she adjusted communication, clarified expectations, and launched a hybrid support initiative. Retention improved within one quarter.

AI can be your radar, but you’re still the captain.

Ask yourself: “What alarms am I ignoring because they aren’t screaming?”

Being yare means using AI to anticipate and adapt before issues escalate.

4. Yoga: Use AI to Stretch Your Thinking and Embrace New Perspectives

In the 5Y Framework, “Yoga” represents mental flexibility, openness to ideas, and the ability to adapt to change without losing alignment with your values.

Empathetic leaders are curious, not rigid. They welcome new insights, even when they challenge their assumptions. And AI, when used intentionally, can expose us to patterns, feedback, and possibilities we might otherwise overlook.

One executive I worked with used an AI-based brainstorming tool during strategic planning. At first, he dismissed many of the prompts. However, one unlikely idea—emerging from aggregated industry trends—sparked a shift in his go-to-market strategy. That openness ultimately led to a 15% increase in revenue.

Try this: Use AI tools to test alternative scenarios, gather diverse team input, or analyze blind spots in decision-making.

Ask yourself: “Am I open to changing my mind when new data or perspectives emerge?”

Rigid thinking limits innovation. Flexible thinking, supported by data and shaped by empathy, unlocks better outcomes.

5. Yearn: Use AI to Amplify Your Purpose and Legacy

You’re not just leading for today. You’re shaping culture, vision, and values that ripple beyond your tenure.

AI can help document your leadership insights, personalize learning for your team, and ensure your voice and vision scale beyond the 1:1.

One senior leader I worked with used AI to compile his weekly leadership reflections into a growing “playbook” for his successor and mentees.

Ask yourself: “What am I doing now that will make leadership easier for the person who comes after me?”

Empathy is long-term thinking. AI gives it structure, memory, and momentum.

Final Thoughts

AI isn’t the enemy of empathy. It’s a tool, and like any tool, it reflects the hand that wields it.

When paired with the 5Y Framework, AI becomes more than a shortcut. It becomes a force multiplier for emotionally intelligent leadership. You lead yourself better. You serve your people better. You build a culture of trust, clarity, and care.

That’s how you go from functional to phenomenal.

What Do You Think?

How are you using AI to support your leadership? Which of the 5Ys do you need to strengthen most right now?

Share your thoughts in the comments, and if this article resonated with you, please share it with a fellow leader.