A report by Careerminds found that there are substantial gaps in skills among managers, which is hurting their readiness to lead. The role of the manager has changed, with leaders now required to help employees handle artificial intelligence, organizational transformation, and complex workplace issues.
According to the report, the vast majority of HR professionals surveyed believe their managers are ready to lead through workplace uncertainty. However, they also acknowledged that their organizations have significant gaps in skills like AI tool adoption and handling complex workplace issues. They require support to address these gaps.
Fewer than half of managers surveyed said they feel ready to lead through critical leadership challenges. Only 35% of people managers said AI has made their roles significantly easier, with many reporting increased worker anxiety and greater pressure to deliver with fewer resources.
Related: Small firms expand without losing their edge
Mark Saddic, senior partner at Careerminds, said that today’s leaders are not simply managing performance, but are also helping employees handle AI, organizational transformation, and increasing uncertainty. He emphasized that organizations need to invest in preparing managers to lead people through change. This investment is essential for success.
The report found that executive-level people managers are more likely to feel ready to lead through challenges, with 2 in 3 saying they feel very ready. In contrast, only 42% of senior-level and middle managers agreed. Executive-level people leaders were also more likely to say they had very adequate training for difficult conversations.
Organizations may underestimate the challenges managers face every day. Other surveys have shown that managers may not feel ready for the challenges of leading in the AI era, with 43% of managers surveyed saying they felt poorly equipped to lead workers with AI expertise.
Related: Two Food Giants Name New CPOs in July
According to Saddic, the organizations that succeed over the next decade won’t simply adopt new technologies faster, but will invest in preparing managers to lead people through change. Leadership readiness has become a competitive advantage.
In the middle of this shift, it’s clear that the ability to adapt and lead through change is key.
As the workplace continues to evolve, the role of the manager will continue to change. Organizations need to be ready to lead through it.
Leave a Reply