Companies are charging ahead with AI—even though middle managers are not ready for it
As Joelle Emerson has watched companies cull the ranks of middle management and pour resources into AI , there has been one key question on her mind: What role is the chief people officer playing in that shift? “I think chief people officers should be leaders in the transformation [that] organizations are undergoing right now with AI,” says Emerson, the cofounder and CEO of culture and inclusion…
Joelle Emerson, co-founder and CEO of Paradigm, a culture and inclusion platform, has observed the trend of companies reducing middle management roles and investing heavily in AI technology. Despite these significant changes, she questions the involvement of the chief people officer (CPO) in such transformations. A recent survey conducted by Paradigm on HR leaders from over 650 companies aims to uncover how companies are adapting and where they might be hindering their progress, primarily due to insufficient empowerment of leaders who manage people and culture.
The survey revealed that half of the companies prioritize AI adoption, with 75% focusing on operational efficiency. However, many companies struggle with implementing the changes they aim for. Only a small percentage of HR leaders believe their managers are adequately prepared to lead through change, with 75% stating their managers are either unprepared or only prepared in some functions.
While companies are taking steps to train managers for AI adoption through coaching and resources, the main issue seems to be the overburdened workload of managers. Middle managers are now expected to handle more direct reports, oversee AI adoption, and assess employee output more efficiently.
Paradigm's study highlights a significant gap between companies' aspirations and their actual implementation of AI. Over a third of the leaders admit that AI is mostly used in an experimental manner, while 38% reported limited integration into workflows. Moreover, the results of AI pilots are not being shared across the organization, which diminishes the potential benefits of such experiments.
Despite these challenges, Emerson believes that there is hope if employers enable CPOs to take a lead role in strategy discussions, rather than overlooking them. They have always advocated for their presence at the strategy table, and in this transformation phase driven by human behavior, having someone with expertise in these areas at the helm is crucial.
Written by urgent.news from Fast Company's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
