You check your calendar...
Eight meetings, zero decisions.
That’s why change stalls, and why people stop listening.
Why Change Fails...
Change fails when leaders speak in plans, a “language” not everyone is able to speak, instead of speaking plain English.
In disruption, people need clear signals, quick decisions, and human care. The WEF names seven skills that matter most during a digital disruption: communication, urgency, collaboration, credibility, fearlessness, a strategic mindset, and empathy.
These connect directly to AI adoption work.
What To Focus On...
- Communicate like a coach
State the goal in one sentence. Name who decides what, and share how you will check quality each week. Keep words short. Invite questions in writing and live. Tie every update to the same three metrics. - Act with urgency, then adjust as you go
Set a two-week sprint to test one workflow change. Make the “nearly right, but now” call when data is incomplete. Log the choice. Review outcomes on Friday and pivot fast. - Build a cross-role huddle
Put product, ops, legal, and HR in one small team and give them one outcome and clear guardrails. Ask them to surface risks early and share wins widely, while treating “never on your own” as the rule. - Earn credibility with simple proof
Publish the plan, milestones, and a short risk register. Track cycle time, error rate, and user effort weekly. When something doesn’t go right, name it. People follow leaders who keep promises, so be that leader. - Model fearlessness
Name the hard trade-off out loud, and protect your team from any pressure. Hold a short “here’s what we tried/here’s what we learned” review after each sprint. Research shows that optimism is contagious when leaders protect their people. - Stay strategic while you cut back
Show the big picture and the next inch. Remove one meeting, one report, or one rule each week that slows the path. Complexity decreases when leaders cut things that are unnecessary. - Lead with empathy you can see
Ask, “What feels hard right now?” Listen (actively) for fear, workload, or skill gaps. Pair any new tool with coaching and a safe way to flag mistakes. Trust rises when people feel seen and validated.
In addition to these, I would also add AI & Digital fluency and Psychological safety as a management practice, two extra skills to focus on as a leader.
Disruption rewards leaders who speak clearly, decide fast, and care in public, so be the leader your people need and want.
Sources: World Economic Forum
