Today my good friend Sabine VanderLinden made a point that really struck me when we were talking about AI adoption

She said:
"And here’s the twist: it’s probably not really “lack of time” right now, it’s "lack of decision speed.” Companies that can cut through red tape and act faster will outpace those still “studying” innovation."

This really got me thinking

We often hear that businesses “don’t have the time” to roll out AI

But let’s be honest, every company has the same 24 hours in a day

The real issue is how quickly leaders are able (and willing) to make decisions

Some organisations are still writing reports, forming committees, and waiting for the “perfect” conditions to move forward

Meanwhile, their competitors are experimenting, iterating, and learning in real time

AI is moving at an unprecedented pace

The companies that treat this like another annual strategy cycle will simply be left behind

This isn’t about being reckless, it’s about building a culture that empowers decision-making, reduces unnecessary friction, and encourages action over analysis paralysis

We’re entering a world where agility is no longer optional

The winners won’t necessarily be the biggest companies or even the ones with the deepest pockets

They’ll be the ones that can decide fast, act fast, and learn fast

If you’re still “studying innovation,” the clock is ticking, your competitors are already building it

Conclusion:
AI leadership isn’t about who has the most resources, it’s about who has the speed to decide and move

In today’s environment, decision speed is strategy