The Rules of ChatGPT in Business: Your Secret Weapon for Doing It All (and Doing It Better)

Published on January 28, 2025

By Lori Cornmesser, VP WW Channel & Alliance Sales, 1Password

In a world where time is short and demands are high, AI tools like ChatGPT have become the secret sauce for many of us juggling careers, teams, and endless to-do lists. But here’s the thing: How do we use these tools responsibly while staying true to our professional integrity?

Think of it like Fight Club. Yes, there are rules—but unlike Fight Club, we do talk about ChatGPT, and we do it with purpose. Here’s how to leverage AI to make us better at what we do, without losing the human touch that sets us apart.

Rule #1: Give Credit Where Credit Is Due

Let’s get this out of the way: Yes, I used ChatGPT to help write this. Transparency isn’t just good ethics—it’s good leadership. Admitting you leaned on AI to fine-tune an email or craft a killer presentation doesn’t make you lazy; it makes you smart. A simple note like, “Drafted with a little help from AI to ensure clarity and punch,” goes a long way in showing you’re innovative and resourceful.

Pro tip: Owning your use of AI can spark great conversations and even encourage your team to explore how they can use it, too.

Rule #2: AI Isn’t the Star—You Are

Let’s be clear: ChatGPT is a co-pilot, not the pilot. Use it to brainstorm, organize thoughts, or refine your tone, but make sure the final product still reflects you. Business is personal, and your unique style, voice, and expertise are what make you irreplaceable. AI can handle the heavy lifting, but the heart? That’s all you.

Rule #3: Keep the Secrets, Secret

ChatGPT is not your confidant, and it definitely shouldn’t know your company’s confidential strategies or sensitive client information. Treat AI like your work BFF in a crowded coffee shop: share ideas, but don’t spill the tea.

Rule #4: Trust, but Verify

AI is smart, but it’s not omniscient. Fact-check everything. If ChatGPT helps you research or draft, remember: it’s not the final word, it’s a starting point. Your expertise and judgment are the guardrails that ensure what you put out there is accurate and aligns with your team’s goals.

Rule #5: Share the Love (and the Lessons)

The more we all know about using AI, the better we’ll become as a team and as leaders. Host a lunch-and-learn, share your favorite ChatGPT hacks on Slack, or swap success stories about how it helped you crush that proposal. When we learn together, we grow together—and isn’t that what being a leader is all about?

The Channel Meets the Future: Work Smarter, Lead Better

We’ve all heard the saying, “Work smarter, not harder.” Well, ChatGPT is the “smarter” part of that equation. But what makes us exceptional is how we combine AI with our creativity, our empathy, and our ability to lead with vision.

So, the next time someone asks, “Did you really use AI for this?” you can smile and say:
“I sure did. Because leveraging every tool at my disposal makes me not just a better worker, but a better leader.”

Let’s rewrite the rules of success—together. What are your favorite ways to use ChatGPT in your role? Drop your tips in the comments. I’d love to hear how you’re turning this tool into a leadership superpower.

Bio: With over 28 years of experience in sales, business development, and marketing, Lori Cornmesser has established herself as a passionate and results-driven executive. Specializing in channel recruitment, development, and management, she has a proven track record of driving partner ecosystems, strategic alliances, and business growth. An Accomplished Channel Executive & Advocate for Diversity in Tech . Lori currently serves at 1Password, continuing to leverage her expertise in the channel. Previously, as deepwatch’s first SVP Global Channel & Alliance Sales Leader, she played a pivotal role in maturing their channel ecosystem, growing the partner-sourced pipeline to $280M and expanding the partner base by 40%. Lori also introduced new go-to-market strategies that significantly increased revenue contribution.

At CyCognito, Lori built the channel foundation from scratch, developing over $80M in partner-sourced pipeline in the first year. Her tenure as Channel Chief at Infoblox saw the company’s revenue grow from $100M to over $500M, with $280M in partner-sourced pipeline, while helping lead their strategic transition to SaaS and cloud-native networking. At Juniper Networks, Lori held key leadership roles, driving channel revenues across multiple markets and contributing to the company’s growth from $500M to $5B.

Lori's achievements have earned her numerous accolades, including being named a CRN Channel Chief for 10 consecutive years and a Power 100 honoree. She’s been recognized among CRN’s Top 100 Executives and Top Women in the Channel for 18 years, and received the 2022 Top 50 Women in Technology Award. Her leadership in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives has been recognized with the 2023 Leadership Excellence Award and other honors, including the Racial Justice Champion award.

Other news

Reclaim Your Wellness: The Art of Self Care

January 28, 2025

By: Taylor Valentine, Marketing Specialist, The Channel Company Let’s start this blog by ripping the band aid off…ready? One. Two. Three! Statistics show that less than half of Black women engage in regular physical activity, and the toll of this, paired with the additional stressors we face increases our risks for heart disease, diabetes, and other health challenges. I want to add to this:, I be

Woman of the Week (WOW): Alex Czerwinski - The Channel Company

February 4, 2025

Please join us in celebrating Alex Czerwinski, Senior Events Program Manager with The Channel Company as our Woman of the Week! From her roots in Long Island, New York, to her role as a dynamic leader orchestrating high-profile events like the Women of the Year Gala and Best of Breed, Alex shares her journey of personal and professional growth. Alex reflects on the pivotal moments in her career,