Why AI Won't Replace Your Leadership Skills in the Trades
Wed Feb 04 2026
AI is transforming home services. It is changing dispatching, marketing, scheduling, follow-ups, and even customer communication.
But there is one thing AI still cannot do.
Build a real team.
In this episode of Service Business Mastery, Tersh Blissett and Joshua Crouch sit down with Scott Stolze, from GrwX Labs, to break down the human side of leadership and communication. These are the skills that separate average service businesses from elite ones.
You'll learn why authenticity is becoming the new competitive advantage, why leaders must create psychological safety, why quiet technicians need "energetic permission" to speak up, and why asking better questions builds trust faster than any script or automation.
If you are using AI in your business, this conversation will help you use it the right way, without losing the human connection that actually builds culture.
What You Will Learn in This Episode
• Why communication is becoming more important as AI grows
• What AI still can't replicate in leadership and team culture
• How to get quiet techs and staff to speak up in meetings
• The leadership framework Scott calls "energetic permission"
• How better questions improve trust, learning, and likability
• Why people crave authenticity in a world of AI-generated content
• How prompting AI correctly makes you a better communicator (and delegator)
• What GrowX Labs does and how they help businesses solve bottlenecks
Timestamps
00:00 Communication that AI can't replace
03:33 Why authenticity matters more than ever
08:39 The "3 wins" of asking better questions
11:14 Better questions that build real connection
13:38 Why people stay silent in groups (and how to fix it)
16:26 How asking "stupid questions" accelerates learning
19:58 Energetic permission: the leadership skill that builds teams
25:38 AI is training you to be a better communicator
32:00 What GrowX Labs is and who it helps
37:03 How to connect with Scott
38:45 Final lesson: help people succeed through connection
Follow the Host and Guest
Tersh Blissett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tershblissett/
Josh Crouch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-crouch/
Scott Stolze: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-stolze/
Connect with Us
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/service-business-mastery
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@servicebusinessmastery
• Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/servicebusinessmasterypodcast
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/servicebusinessmasterypodcast
Sponsors
This episode is kindly sponsored by:
UpFrog
MarketStorm
CallRail
CompanyCam
Learn how to automate tasks, save time, and increase your profit. No coding required!
👉 Enroll Today - https://bit.ly/3CZTDte
Get Your 14-Day Free Trial with CallRail!
👉 Visit: https://www.callrail.com/sbmpod
Subscribe now to stay updated with Service Business Mastery on YouTube!
More
AI is transforming home services. It is changing dispatching, marketing, scheduling, follow-ups, and even customer communication. But there is one thing AI still cannot do. Build a real team. In this episode of Service Business Mastery, Tersh Blissett and Joshua Crouch sit down with Scott Stolze, from GrwX Labs, to break down the human side of leadership and communication. These are the skills that separate average service businesses from elite ones. You'll learn why authenticity is becoming the new competitive advantage, why leaders must create psychological safety, why quiet technicians need "energetic permission" to speak up, and why asking better questions builds trust faster than any script or automation. If you are using AI in your business, this conversation will help you use it the right way, without losing the human connection that actually builds culture. What You Will Learn in This Episode • Why communication is becoming more important as AI grows • What AI still can't replicate in leadership and team culture • How to get quiet techs and staff to speak up in meetings • The leadership framework Scott calls "energetic permission" • How better questions improve trust, learning, and likability • Why people crave authenticity in a world of AI-generated content • How prompting AI correctly makes you a better communicator (and delegator) • What GrowX Labs does and how they help businesses solve bottlenecks Timestamps 00:00 Communication that AI can't replace 03:33 Why authenticity matters more than ever 08:39 The "3 wins" of asking better questions 11:14 Better questions that build real connection 13:38 Why people stay silent in groups (and how to fix it) 16:26 How asking "stupid questions" accelerates learning 19:58 Energetic permission: the leadership skill that builds teams 25:38 AI is training you to be a better communicator 32:00 What GrowX Labs is and who it helps 37:03 How to connect with Scott 38:45 Final lesson: help people succeed through connection Follow the Host and Guest Tersh Blissett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tershblissett/ Josh Crouch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-crouch/ Scott Stolze: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-stolze/ Connect with Us • LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/service-business-mastery • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@servicebusinessmastery • Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/servicebusinessmasterypodcast • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/servicebusinessmasterypodcast Sponsors This episode is kindly sponsored by: UpFrog MarketStorm CallRail CompanyCam Learn how to automate tasks, save time, and increase your profit. No coding required! 👉 Enroll Today - https://bit.ly/3CZTDte Get Your 14-Day Free Trial with CallRail! 👉 Visit: https://www.callrail.com/sbmpod Subscribe now to stay updated with Service Business Mastery on YouTube!