Leading Teams Beyond AI Disruption to Strategic Transformation

My team members are on the edge with the AI hype thats going on. They feel replaceable and not included in the decision making. Their worst nightmare is to lose their job. My all-hands meeting are filled with anxiety ridden questions of the future. They are asking me to provide certainty, while none exists as far as I can see. How do I convert this fear into some degree of open-mindedness?   ~ Leader, Fortune 500 Bank

Facing uncertainty as a leader and having to give direction to the team is not an easy task. There is no one playbook. There are too many variables. There is fear, anxiety, chaos, uncertainty and lack of morale - the classic fear of the unknown devil.

Once the organisation gets used to the concept of the unknown devil, it moves to take some control. This is where it moves from Survive --> Thrive -->Anti-fragile. This journey transforms the disruption to something meaningful to the organisation. In all this medley, a leader's job is to be the bridge : taking their team from disruption into transformation.

AI Disruption happens to your organisation—new tools, changed processes, uncertain futures. It's reactive, defensive, and imposed.

Strategic Transformation is something your organisation makes happen—evolving capabilities, elevated roles, expanded impact. It's proactive, intentional, futuristic.

For you to be in this journey as a leader, here is a starting point:

1. Acknowledge what your team is feeling in the now

Acknowledge and play back what you sense.

 I know many of you are wondering about your future considering the AI hype and pressure.....

Being seen and heard is one of ways you can create psychological safety for your team to be themselves. It gives them permission to feel what they are feeling without running away from processing it.

2. Clear the fog as much as you can

Its easy to go to "dooms day" thinking when faced with adversity. As a leader, provide as much clarity as you can.

We are trying to use AI in automating linear tasks with a process that allows you to focus on complex tasks that carry risks and decision making.

Of course there would still be "unknowns" and you can definitely not give them a "guarantee".

Still, clarity in what "today looks like" is paramount in reducing the overthinking in your team.

3. Make Learning fun

A handshake with AI is now a necessity for everyone. Help your team experiment with AI in a fun based format.

Form heterogeneous groups with AI native generation (Gen Z, Alpha) & Gen X,Y. See what emerges with the collective wisdom.

Become curious about how your team is creating. Ask them:

What magic did you create with AI this fortnight? Can you share with all of us?

Do not track AI adoption as you will track deliverables. Keep the objective as "learning & fun." Invest in your people's up-skilling.

4. Lead with purpose

The "Why" justifies the "What".

Connect AI adoption with a larger purpose that gives motivation for people to come along.

Communicate:

What is in it for me?
What is in it for the organisation?

5. Create champions/ ambassadors

Transformation does not happen without collective initiative and participation.

Brand the early adopters as "Ambassadors" and let them also do the canvassing.

Ask yourself:

Who has entered the curiosity zone?

Who is passionate on the subject?

Who can I request partnership to take my team along?

A leader who wins in this new normal won't be the one that adopted AI fastest—they'll be the one that transformed their people's fear into excitement about their enhanced future capabilities.

Are you one?

#coaching #executivecoaching #AI