Elton Boocock, founder of Thinkivity – which provides AI consultancy and training exclusively for the UK glazing industry – asks whether you are the reason that your team can’t move forward with AI.
In the last few months, more glazing businesses than ever have started asking questions about AI. That’s a good thing. Curiosity is important. But there’s something else we’ve noticed and it’s slowing a lot of companies down.
It’s not the tools. It’s not the market – it’s not even the team. It’s the person at the top.
The silent stall
We talk to a lot of business owners, directors, and managers in this industry. Many are saying the right things: “We want to use AI more this year” or “I’ve told the team to start exploring what’s out there.”
But when we dig a little deeper, nothing’s really happening. The team are unsure where to start. The manager is too busy. The MD doesn’t want to commit to training just yet. And suddenly, the whole business is stuck in neutral.
Not because people are against the idea, but because no one’s actively leading it.
That’s what we call the AI bottleneck. And if you’re in a leadership role, you might be the reason things aren’t moving forward. Even if you’re not trying to be.
Not fear, but friction
Let’s be honest. Our (glazing) industry isn’t known for being quick to adopt new technology. Most of us have built businesses around experience, reputation, and gut instinct. That doesn’t go away overnight.
On top of that, introducing something new, especially something like AI, often looks like more work before the benefit is felt. Training takes time. Building new habits isn’t easy. And it can be tempting to say, “We’re already busy enough.”
We get it. But that’s exactly why leadership matters.
If the people at the top are hesitant, the rest of the business will hesitate too. Without a clear signal, no one wants to step first. And the risk is that while your team waits for permission, your competitors are already making progress.
This is something we see a lot. Directors that assume the team aren’t ready for AI, when in fact, they’re already using it. Often quietly, awkwardly, without guidance or support.
They’re asking ChatGPT to write emails, using free image generators, or testing meeting recorders. But without structure, that use stays casual. It doesn’t turn into real benefit. And worse, it sometimes introduces risk.
Your team members don’t need permission. They need leadership.
They need to see that the business is serious about AI. That there’s time and space to learn it properly. And that it’s not about working harder, it’s about working smarter.
The first step forward.
Training doesn’t mean you’re broken. It doesn’t mean your team aren’t good enough. It means you’re preparing them, and yourself, for what’s next.
We’ve trained fabricators, component suppliers, and retail businesses, and the pattern is always the same: once the leadership team get involved, the results follow fast. The energy changes. People stop waiting and start trying. The small gains stack up.
If you’re not ready to lead it, your business isn’t ready to benefit from it.
What you can do next
If you told your team “we want to look at AI this year,” now’s the time to follow through.
Book the training. Start the conversation. Lead by example. Don’t be the bottleneck.
And if you’re not sure where to begin, we’re here to help. At thinkivity, we’ll show you what’s possible and how to get there, step by step. AI won’t replace your experience. But it will amplify it.
