Artificial intelligence is changing the world of work – faster than many organisations can keep up with. But who provides guidance when technology sets the pace?

The latest PINKTUM study, which surveyed over 1.000 respondents, provides some insightful answers:

• Only 12% use AI regularly in their work.
• 67% are interested in it but do not know how they can benefit from it.
• Particularly noteworthy: managers are more sceptical than employees without management responsibility.

This shows that there is a gap between knowledge and action – especially where leadership should actually be showing the way.

What good leadership must achieve now

When technologies transform entire industries, it is not enough to optimise processes. Managers must provide guidance: they must classify developments, set priorities and support people in uncertain situations.

This requires more than just tool competence. It is a question of attitude and motivation:

• How does a manager assess the opportunities and risks of new technologies?
• How do they deal with uncertainty?
• And above all: How do they build trust in change?

The study makes it clear: Many see change coming – but only a few are actively shaping it.

Relevance for executive search: Who provides guidance?

These questions are crucial in executive search.
We are not just looking for CVs and track records, but personalities who are capable of shaping change in a meaningful way.

To this end, we use potential analyses and management assessments to understand:

• How do executives think?
• What drives them?
• How do they deal with complex change?

Because in a world where technology is developing faster than culture, the fit between personality and attitude often makes the decisive difference.

Conclusion

AI is changing work processes, but it does not replace the task of leadership: providing people with guidance and giving meaning to developments.

In executive search, this means identifying individuals who not only accompany change, but consciously shape it – and thus guide organisations through times of change.