Linkedin Newsletter "Human Skills in the Age of AI" & Releasing the Digital Leader Canvas

Big news today! Andre is launching his new Linkedin Newsletter called Human Skills in the Age of AI - feel free to subscribe here: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7444678645496860672

AND we released our Digital Leader Canvas! (Which we will cover in detail and step by step in the next newsletters)

Why a canvas?

Over the years, I've seen leaders struggle with the same question again and again: "I know I should develop as a leader — but where do I actually start?"

Most leadership tools are either too abstract (personality tests that label you but don't guide you) or too rigid (competency checklists that miss the human side). I wanted something different.

Inspired by the logic of the Business Model Canvas, the Digital Leader Canvas breaks leadership down into eleven concrete dimensions — and gives you a structured way to reflect on each one.

It's not a personality test. It's not a scorecard. It's a thinking tool.

The 11 dimensions

The canvas covers the full spectrum of what it means to lead today:

① Team Vision & Motivation — What motivates you? What motivates your team? What's your shared vision?

② Leadership Style — What are your values? When should you tell, when should you coach? How flexible is your approach?

③ Resources & Limitations — Where are you limited? What are you afraid of? How do you balance competing goals?

④ Self-Management — Where do you get distracted? Where should you aim for perfection — and where should you leave it at 80%?

⑤ Energy, Focus & Meditation — How do you manage your energy? Your sleep? Your ability to stay present with people?

⑥ Delegation — What should you kill completely? What should AI handle? How can you shift from doing to coaching?

⑦ Meeting Moderation — How do you improve your 1-on-1s? What moderation skills do you need to develop?

⑧ Senses & Emotions — How well do you listen? How quickly do you read the room? How fast can you shift your own emotional state?

⑨ Profiling — What profiling system works best for your team? How do you account for cultural differences?

⑩ Digital Skills — Where is technology heading? What can AI do for you and your team? How do you stay current?

⑪ Communication — How do you get honest feedback? How do you improve your presentation skills? How transparent is your communication?

How it works

You can work through it alone in 30–45 minutes, or use it as the foundation for a team workshop, a coaching session or a leadership development programme.

Start with your vision. Reflect on your style. Identify your strengths. Think about your network. Then shift perspective: how do others actually experience your leadership?

The gap between your self-image and their perception — that's where the real development happens.

What's coming next

This is the beginning of a series. Over the next 11 weeks, I'll go through the canvas topic by topic — explaining how each dimension works, sharing real examples, and giving you practical exercises to work with.

Next week: Team Vision & Motivation — why most team visions fail and what to do instead.

Get the canvas

The Digital Leader Canvas is available as a free PDF download for individual use and as a MURAL template for collaborative workshops and remote teams.

👉 Download here: https://www.digital-leader-program.de/en/digital-leader-program-digital-leader-canvas

Print it out, grab a pen, and start reflecting. Or open the MURAL and do it with your team.

I'd love to hear what you discover.

The Digital Leader Canvas V1.1 by Andre Ottlik is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.