AI at Work: Leading the People Side of Transformation

AI is no longer just a concept of the future—it’s here, reshaping how we work, innovate, and grow. According to the 2024 Work Trend Index Annual Report from Microsoft and LinkedIn, 75% of employees are now using AI at work, with nearly half adopting it in the past six months. That pace of change is remarkable, and organizations are rushing to answer critical questions like:

• How much should we invest?
• How do we govern AI?
• Where does it sit in the organization?

But as leaders grapple with these questions, there’s one that often gets overlooked:
How are we leading the people side of this transformation?

This question is at the heart of successful change leadership. And it’s one I’ve seen ignored far too often, both in my corporate career and in the work I do today with leadership teams navigating transformational change.

When Change Fails: A Story of Transformation Gone Wrong

Let me take you back to the early 2010s. I was part of a leadership team tasked with driving a digital transformation at a large company. By the time I joined, the initiative had been ongoing for more than five years without measurable success. Our private equity firm was frustrated, our CEO was under pressure, and consultants from Bain and McKinsey were brought in to diagnose the issue.

I’ll never forget the day Bain presented their findings to the executive leadership team. They told us bluntly:

“The problem isn’t your digital roadmap, your go-to-market strategy, or your products. The problem is right here in this room.”

Their message was clear—until we focused on engaging the hearts and minds of the people executing the change, we would continue to fail. As I looked around the room, I realized they were right. We weren’t aligned as a leadership team, and I wasn’t convinced we could rise to the challenge.

Shortly after that meeting, I left the company. Eleven months later, it filed for bankruptcy.

That experience taught me a profound lesson: Transformation is about people. It starts with an aligned leadership team that models the behaviors they want to see throughout the organization. When leaders fail to engage their people—when they focus only on systems, processes, and outcomes—the change is doomed before it begins.

The Power of “Collectively”

Fast forward to today, and I see echoes of this lesson in my work with a leadership team driving their own transformation. They’re integrating data and AI into their strategy—critical enablers for long-term growth. At a recent offsite, the head of this team used the word “collectively” seven times in a 15-minute kickoff.

He wasn’t just throwing out corporate jargon. He was intentional, using the word to paint a vision of a future where silos are broken, alignment is strong, and friction is replaced with seamless collaboration.

Transformation, whether it’s driven by AI or any other major shift, requires more than technical skills and strategic plans. It demands relationships built on trust, respect, and shared purpose. It’s not just about what gets done; it’s about how it gets done.

• How leaders show up.
• How they engage their teams.
• How they intentionally lead with heart.

AI: The Ultimate Test of Intentional Leadership

AI represents one of the most significant shifts in how work gets done. It’s a game-changer for efficiency and growth—but its potential will only be realized if leaders prioritize the people behind the change.

In a recent panel discussion I facilitated, technology thought leader Peter High with Metis Strategy shared a powerful insight: 80% of focus should be on the people and process aspect of AI.

It’s not just about implementing AI tools; it’s about helping people understand them, use them effectively, and embrace the change. That requires intentional leadership. It requires engaging hearts and minds.

 

 

Why the “How” Matters

Every major change initiative hinges on how leaders guide their teams. If you’ve ever been part of a failed change effort, you’ve likely heard these sentiments:

• “We weren’t told about the changes until we had to communicate them to our teams.”
• “Leadership didn’t care about the impact on us.”
• “We gave feedback, but it was clear the decision was already made.”

These are symptoms of a lack of intentional leadership. When leaders focus solely on what they want to achieve—efficiency, cost savings, or productivity—they miss the opportunity to inspire their teams to fully buy in and execute the change.

By contrast, when leaders focus on how they lead—on fostering alignment, building trust, and engaging their people—the change becomes not only achievable but sustainable.

The Leadership Imperative for Today’s AI Era

AI is here to stay. It’s transforming how we work, but its success depends on how well leaders navigate the people side of change. So, as you think about AI and its role in your organization, ask yourself:

• Are you creating alignment across your leadership team?
• Are you engaging the hearts and minds of the people who will execute the change?
• Are you leading intentionally, focusing on how you show up, communicate, and connect?

The biggest ROI in the AI equation isn’t just about the tools—it’s about the people.

Want to measure your own intentionality as a leader? Take my Heart Leader Assessment to discover how your leadership style supports transformational change and connects the “how” with the “why.”

About Tricia Manning, PCC

Tricia Manning is a leadership and culture expert, keynote speaker, and executive coach who helps growth-minded leaders elevate performance, strengthen engagement, and build thriving, people-first cultures. A former C-suite executive with 25 years of real-world experience, Tricia was one of only two women at the boardroom table and understands the complex challenges leaders face today.

After a life-changing health crisis in 2016, she transitioned from corporate leadership to coaching, speaking, and writing. She has since worked with leaders at top organizations like Microsoft, PepsiCo, and Amazon. Tricia is the author of Lead with Heart & Leave a Legacy and a passionate advocate for intentional, heart-led leadership that drives meaningful impact.