Leading in the "messy middle" of work: adapt, relearn, evolve

I came across this interesting article on @HRDAustralia this week, and I know we’re all feeling it — this “messy middle” of work. Between hybrid demands, shifting skills, and AI reshaping everything we thought we knew, leading people today requires more than just strategy — it requires adaptability, empathy, and clarity. This HRD article really hits home on what it takes to succeed in these uncertain times: the ability to adapt, relearn, and evolve faster than the change itself. What I’ve realised is that we haven’t changed much since the pandemic — it’s still not the tech that’s tripping us up… It’s the people part. I explore this deeply in Oh SHI(F)T! Now What? — because in this AI era, where communication, collaboration, and community matter more than ever, we need to refocus on the human side of leadership. It’s not about keeping up with technology — it’s about bringing people along with it. If you’ve ever felt like you’re leading through fog, this is your reminder: You don’t need to have all the answers. You just need to stay curious, connected, and courageous enough to shift — …and perhaps, to read Oh SHI(F)T! Now What? #LeadershipDevelopment #FutureOfWork #AILeadership #HybridWork #AdaptiveLeadership #PeopleFirst #ChangeLeadership #OhShiftNowWhat 🔗 https://ohshiftnowwhat.com https://lnkd.in/gNp4Eade

I came across this interesting article on @HRDAustralia this week, and I know we’re all feeling it — this “messy middle” of work. Between hybrid demands, shifting skills, and AI reshaping everything we thought we knew, leading people today requires more than just strategy — it requires adaptability, empathy, and clarity. This HRD article really hits home on what it takes to succeed in these uncertain times: the ability to adapt, relearn, and evolve faster than the change itself. What I’ve realised is that we haven’t changed much since the pandemic — it’s still not the tech that’s tripping us up… It’s the people part. I explore this deeply in Oh SHI(F)T! Now What? — because in this AI era, where communication, collaboration, and community matter more than ever, we need to refocus on the human side of leadership. It’s not about keeping up with technology — it’s about bringing people along with it. If you’ve ever felt like you’re leading through fog, this is your reminder: You don’t need to have all the answers. You just need to stay curious, connected, and courageous enough to shift — …and perhaps, to read Oh SHI(F)T! Now What? #LeadershipDevelopment #FutureOfWork #AILeadership #HybridWork #AdaptiveLeadership #PeopleFirst #ChangeLeadership #OhShiftNowWhat 🔗 https://ohshiftnowwhat.com https://lnkd.in/gNp4Eade

I came across this interesting article on @HRDAustralia this week, and I know we’re all feeling it — this “messy middle” of work. Between hybrid demands, shifting skills, and AI reshaping everything we thought we knew, leading people today requires more than just strategy — it requires adaptability, empathy, and clarity. This HRD article really hits home on what it takes to succeed in these uncertain times: the ability to adapt, relearn, and evolve faster than the change itself. What I’ve realised is that we haven’t changed much since the pandemic — it’s still not the tech that’s tripping us up… It’s the people part. I explore this deeply in Oh SHI(F)T! Now What? — because in this AI era, where communication, collaboration, and community matter more than ever, we need to refocus on the human side of leadership. It’s not about keeping up with technology — it’s about bringing people along with it. If you’ve ever felt like you’re leading through fog, this is your reminder: You don’t need to have all the answers. You just need to stay curious, connected, and courageous enough to shift — …and perhaps, to read Oh SHI(F)T! Now What? #LeadershipDevelopment #FutureOfWork #AILeadership #HybridWork #AdaptiveLeadership #PeopleFirst #ChangeLeadership #OhShiftNowWhat 🔗 https://ohshiftnowwhat.com https://lnkd.in/gNp4Eade

Only 14% of employees trust senior leadership, while many now say AI gives them what leaders don’t: clarity, consistency, and feedback. https://lnkd.in/etZkxBwu Technology isn’t leading better. It’s just listening without ego. Empathy and transparency aren’t soft skills. They're infrastructure.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐀𝐈 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐬! Artificial intelligence is changing how workplaces grow, learn, and connect and for HR leaders it matters more than many realize. 🧐 1️⃣𝐀𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤. When feedback is given through AI-tools, the fear of judgement disappears. Honest reflection becomes possible. 2️⃣ 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥. AI can read patterns across tools, relationships, and outcomes, helping leaders see how work happens and also what gets done. 3️⃣ 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐨𝐮𝐬 > 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥. Annual reviews are fading. Real-time nudges, insights, and learning moments are turning performance management into ongoing development. 4️⃣𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬, 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲.. AI amplifies human output. The future isn’t more people. It’s fewer, better-enabled people with sharper clarity and ownership. 5️⃣ 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐤. Coaching every manager is now scalable through AI. Personalized, always-on guidance could finally fix the weakest link in culture building. 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐑 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐆𝐮𝐧 𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞! 👉 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐀𝐈 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦! ...... “𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐃 𝐈𝐓”....🦾 #AIinHR #WorkplaceCulture #CHRO #HRLeadership #FutureOfWork #HRAssociation #HRToday #HRLeaders #WellbeingAtWork #PeopleAnalytics #EmployeeExperience #LeadershipDevelopment #PerformanceCulture #ManagerCapability Read more: https://lnkd.in/evyby-bw

AI is transforming how we work but it won’t replace what makes work worth doing. Employee engagement, performance, and burnout won’t be solved by smarter algorithms, chatbots, dashboards, or agents. They improve when people feel seen, trusted, and supported. AI can streamline processes, but it can’t build relationships. It can summarize feedback, but it can’t feel it and empathize with the other person and care about others. The future of leadership isn’t about mastering new tech, it’s about mastering humanity. Trust and empathy aren’t soft skills; they’re leadership infrastructure.

Artificial Intelligence is transforming how we work — but successful integration depends as much on people as it does on technology. As organizations adopt new AI tools, employees look to leadership for reassurance, transparency, and support. Prioritizing open communication, training, and ethical use helps ensure technology enhances, not replaces, human potential. Learn how leaders can build trust, strengthen resilience, and guide their teams through AI-driven change. 🔗 Read the full article here: https://ow.ly/ahK650XncHc #ArtificialIntelligence #Leadership #ChangeManagement #WorkplaceWellness

If a “leadership vacuum” persists at work and leaders do not communicate about new tools, employees may feel more anxiety about artificial intelligence and other new technologies in the workplace, according to a Nov. 5 report from Mercer. https://lnkd.in/eqRdD_UR

Conversations about the need for training and upskilling have been going on for some months now. It's not only because of the prevalence of AI - it's also because talent acquisition has slowed, meaning more is (or should be) being invested into an organization's workforce to maintain a competitive advantage. With specific regard to AI, it's no longer a secret that it's ineffective without adaptations to business needs and training for end-users. Knowing all this, why does it appear that midway through Q4, we're still having conversations about the need for upskilling vs how best to measure upskilling training effectiveness? #HR #AI #Upskilling #Leadership #LearningandDevelopment

I just read an article "Is ‘Caring’ for Workers Taking a Back Seat?" that was shared by Korn Ferry. It's a great 5-minute read.   As organizations rush to embrace AI and advanced technologies, we must not forget the fundamentals that truly sustain success: our people. While technical skills and innovation are critical, overlooking care, engagement, and emotional intelligence risks eroding the very culture that drives performance.   As Simon Sinek, an amazing motivational speaker, reminds us, “Customers will never love a company until the employees love it first.” At the end of the day, it is people—not machines—who unlock potential and bring strategies to life. Read the full article here. https://lnkd.in/gx25x265