AI Readiness Framework for Business Leaders: What to Do Now (and How Much)

AI continues to dominate business headlines. But when I speak to business leaders, the reality is more grounded.

According to Microsoft's global 2025 Work Trend Index, 75% of knowledge workers now use AI at work, and 90% say it saves them time. Yet only 45% of organisations report having a clear AI vision or strategy — a striking gap between individual enthusiasm and organisational alignment.

In short, many leaders feel the pressure to "do something about AI" — but aren’t yet sure what that is, or how urgently to act.

It doesn’t help that a booming AI sector, including tech vendors and consultants, is actively selling solutions to every industry. The sense that you might be falling behind is strong — even if, for your business, that's not yet true.

So how should leaders respond?

Not Hype. Readiness.

The challenge isn’t whether AI is important — it’s how to act in a way that’s relevant to your business.

AI will likely reshape your organisation during your tenure, even if it’s not disrupting it today. Some sectors are already seeing change at the core of their business model. Others face more modest, operational gains. That’s why the goal for most leaders shouldn’t be to "have an AI strategy" but to have a strategy that’s ready for AI.

A Simple Framework to Find Your Starting Point

To help you get started, here’s a two-axis framework that many of my clients have found helpful. It plots:

1. AI Disruption to Business Model (Low → High)

   How much AI is likely to change how your business creates, delivers, or captures value

   
   

2. Maturity of AI Solutions in Your Market (Low → High)

   How common and commercially viable AI solutions are for your customers and competitors

   
   

   

   Figure - AI Readiness Matrix: A simple framework to help leaders reflect on how much AI is likely to disrupt their business model — and how mature AI solutions are in their market. Use it to start the right strategic conversations, not to force a score.

Each strategic stance means something different:

• Act Now – The market is moving and your model may be exposed. Delay = risk. Start reallocating investment, building internal teams, and reshaping value delivery.

• Pilot & Prepare – Learn fast. Start small pilots. Invest in internal capability.

• Optimise – Adopt mature AI tools to drive efficiency and specific improvements.

• Watch Brief – Stay informed. Define what would trigger action. Avoid distractions.

This matrix helps you zoom out. But to refine your thinking, zoom in.

Company Context Matters Too

Not all companies in the same sector are in the same boat. Context matters:

• A global CPG brand may need to act now.

• A regional food business may simply optimise marketing.

• A multinational bank might need to rewire its operating model.

• A boutique financial advisor may only need to stay informed.

To refine your positioning, use these reflection prompts. They’re designed to help leadership teams have the right conversations (not generate a score).

Six Questions to Assess AI Readiness for Your Business

Use these questions in boardroom or strategy settings to test your thinking:

1. How likely is AI to disrupt how your business creates, delivers, or captures value? Could it force a rethink of your commercial model, product logic, or go-to-market — or simply support existing operations?

   
   

2. Are your customers or clients expecting AI-enabled experiences or solutions? Are you hearing real interest, indirect signals, or explicit demand? In which areas?

   
   

3. What are your competitors doing with AI? Are they experimenting, integrating it into delivery, or using it to reposition their offer? Are you ahead, behind, or keeping pace?

   
   

4. How mature are your internal capabilities to work with AI — even at a pilot level? Do you have the data, talent, and leadership engagement to experiment effectively?

   
   

5. What is your organisation’s appetite to focus time and resources on AI in the next 6–12 months? Even with a clear case, will competing priorities delay action?

   
   

6. What is your strategic intent when it comes to AI? Are you watching the space, preparing to engage, or already deploying AI to reshape growth and operations?

These are not just tech questions. They’re strategic ones. And answering them well requires the input of senior leaders across your business.

A Final Thought

You don’t need a standalone AI strategy. You need a business strategy that’s ready for AI.

The organisations navigating AI well aren’t chasing headlines. They’re being deliberate. They are:

• Staying focused on value

• Acting where it matters

• Building readiness without overreacting

If you find this framework useful, feel free to share it with your leadership team. Better yet, use it as the basis for your next strategy or board discussion.

And if you’d like a thought partner to help apply this to your specific context, I’d be happy to talk.