Leadership Development & AI: Developing Future-Ready Leaders

AI is now present in all areas of technology, including chatbots, search tools, and writing analysis. It can take your meeting notes, update your CRM, or be your virtual assistant (and even sound human). It is exciting and scary, and as leaders, we cannot hide from it. Leadership development must now include AI—helping leaders harness its potential, adapt to change, and drive innovation in their organizations.

Leadership and leadership skills are evolving with AI and will need to evolve quickly, regardless of your field. Skill obsolescence, where a skill becomes significantly less valuable or outdated, is speeding up. The move from the fax machine to email took over 15 years; the move to use AI in your day-to-day will be under two years. Leaders and employees will need to acquire skills within the next five years to stay relevant in their existing positions, which will create friction within organizations.

How do you help your leaders get comfortable with AI?

The support that a leader on your team needs to become more familiar and comfortable with AI will depend on how they view technology:

Tech-Literate Leaders: Leaders who are familiar with technology and can switch easily between systems are more likely to adapt in the face of AI. To support these leaders, encourage them to:

• Research your current technology stack to identify AI in your current solutions and take online courses, webinars, or workshops on how that AI will help your organization.
• Review what should be implemented and how, so that it can augment current work processes.
• Learn about ethical AI, so that if they are considering a solution, they can ensure that it will not harm your company reputation.
• Start using Co-Pilot or ChatGPT, providing them with initial recommendations on how they can augment their work and be more productive.
• Look for AI solutions to challenges that your organization is having.

Digital Novice Leaders: Leaders who might not be as comfortable with technology will need more support to adapt to the pace of technology change. However, that leader will still need to learn how to use AI successfully. To support digital novices, encourage them to:

• Start small with programs that make their life easier – grammar programs that improve their writing, digital notetakers so they no longer have to write up meeting notes, or a presentation-making tool.
• Take an online course on AI to introduce them to what AI is and how it can be used.
• Test the waters with ChatGPT or Co-Pilot for a specific set of tasks.
• Chat with their tech-literate friends about how they are using AI.
• Once your digital novices are familiar with AI, then move them to the tech-literate approach to continue their learning.

The key is to develop skills that complement AI, not compete with it. Make them see the benefits of AI and learn about it, rather than hide from it.

What are the essential leadership skills that need to be leaned into?

As AI becomes available within your technology stack, there are essential skills that your leaders will need to have to identify opportunities and risks:

• Strategic thinking: Implementing AI involves analyzing and planning for the future by considering various factors and potential outcomes. It is essential in the age of AI because it helps leaders identify opportunities and risks, ensuring that AI is implemented effectively and ethically. By leveraging strategic thinking, leaders can navigate the rapid changes brought by AI, making informed decisions that align with their organization’s goals and values.
• Change Management: When introducing AI into your organization, you are making fundamental shifts in how work gets done and how people interact with technology. A strong change management strategy will help manage resistance, build AI literacy, and ensure AI adoption is rolled out smoothly.
• Communication: Communicating your ideas, both verbally and in writing, is essential to help explain how AI is going to benefit your organization, how it works, and how it will be implemented. Leaders must frame AI as an enabler, not a threat, through strong narratives and clear messaging.
• Adaptability: Working with AI requires a growth mindset, especially as AI will evolve from what it is today to how it is used tomorrow. There will be experimentation and iteration, and learning how to adapt to that change, both in terms of the technology and the human factor will define how your organization views change.
• Emotional Intelligence: Managing employee concerns about AI, from how it will impact their day-to-day to whether it will replace their jobs, requires leaders with emotional intelligence skills who can discuss the changes and manage the concerns with empathy.
• Ethical Leadership: AI needs to be implemented ethically with an eye on AI bias, privacy and security concerns, and ethical implications. As AI is rolled out, setting clear AI governance policies will help guide your team on usage.

If your team is implementing solutions with AI, leadership development of soft skills will help you with a smooth transition when discussing or implementing the new features. At X5 Management, we offer leadership training on change management, productive conflict, creative problem solving, and emotional intelligence – reach out to us for more information.

About the Author: Mike Mack, President 

Mike Mack is a trusted Executive Coach, Consultant, and Facilitator who has been helping business teams maximize their potential since 2006 through tailored consulting, training, and coaching. Passionate about leadership, team development, and succession planning, he strives to make a positive impact in every engagement. A four-time Amazon bestselling author, Mike’s books include Remarkable Service, Relationships for Keeps, Lunch with Leaders, and Weekend Wisdom. Mike holds an MBA from Athabasca University and has completed governance training at the University of Alberta. He is an active member of several professional organizations, including the International Coaching Federation, the Institute of Corporate Directors, and the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers.