As organizations embed artificial intelligence into business operations, the demands on leaders are changing. Today’s teams aren’t made up of people alone—they’re increasingly hybrid, with humans and AI working side by side. This shift has profound implications on how decisions are made, how roles are defined, and how trust is built.

Simply put, as the world changes, leaders need to change, too—and fast. To succeed, leaders must adapt their approach—rethinking how they structure teams, develop talent, communicate change, and build cultures of continuous learning. Those who do will unlock new levels of agility and innovation. And those who don’t will pay a steep price.

Unsure where to start? Here are five essential leadership shifts to make now in order to lead effectively in an era when yesterday’s playbook no longer applies.

Leadership today isn’t about control—it’s about enabling collaboration between people and intelligent systems. As AI agents become more capable and autonomous, leaders must influence human behavior and how AI operates within the team.

That means defining when AI leads and when people intervene, ensuring AI decisions are understandable, and creating clear escalation paths. The goal isn’t to micromanage AI—it’s to design environments where humans and machines both contribute.

By investing in the core operating processes and relational dynamics of team performance, you’ll turn your AI players into an all-star........

© Fast Company