focused article

The Next Era of Leadership Development Will Be AI-Assistedand Human-Led

Author: Edward Dellheim

A multitude of AI use cases are emerging today, indicating the profound impact AI is having on how we operate our businesses, interact with our customers, and provide a meaningful work experience for our people. While all are undoubtedly true, the promise of AI also extends into helping reshape leadership development. The key to successfully preparing the next generation of leaders will be in leveraging the ability of AI to create personalized learning paths while also ensuring that critical soft skills such as wisdom, empathy, and active communication remain a core focus.

As a foundation, AI trained on the requisite data can provide a rapid and integrated analysis of the overall talent capabilities within the organization, highlighting where it excels and where it needs improvement. AI can also improve the tools used to test and differentiate the current leadership skills of individual managers and line staff.

Armed with these sets of analyses, decision-makers will be better equipped to apply their experience and judgment to determine the right persons for strategic roles, emerging leaders who could grow into anticipated future roles, and the skill gaps of both teams and individuals. Executive Leaders are indispensable to ensure that your most critical business needs are equally met with the thoughtful consideration of the needs of your highest potential employees. This supports talent retention while also predicting turnover risks.

Personalized learning paths produced by AI to close the most salient development needs will be more focused, more meaningful, and more impactful than traditional leadership development programs typically based upon lock-step curriculums. For instance, a module on providing critical feedback might be satisfied via an acknowledgement of a key expectations summary by a manager who is well-skilled in the mechanics of that area.

Because leadership is fundamentally a human-centric skill, the ultimate effectiveness of the development program will always require human coaches to guide and integrate learnings. As opposed to technical skills, soft skills require reflection, nuance, and dynamic feedback to mature. AI may guide and provide better situational answers for leadership, but it cannot necessarily define the true leadership needs. Often, the ability to navigate this distinction is the precise hallmark of an average versus a great leader.

While AI cannot replace the human element of coaching – the empathy that is necessary to understand and connect with individuals to enhance self-awareness – AI can act as a point of leverage. It can help make sure your leadership development program is focused on the most critical skills your employees need to succeed. AI can efficiently create learning paths that yield better results faster, and it can augment coaching by monitoring performance and providing real-time, individualized feedback. So, while AI is an impactful tool for guiding data-driven decisions and automation, it is not a substitute for leadership.