How to Spot an AI-Ready Leader

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Key Insights

How decisive leadership keeps AI efforts moving
5 behaviors that define AI-ready leadership
Tips for embedding AI-readiness across leaders and teams

Few topics dominate executive agendas like AI, and its influence is only beginning to unfold.

Nearly all leaders—99%, according to research by the Korn Ferry Institute—say AI will disrupt their industry. But confidence in how organizations will adapt isn’t keeping pace.

In Korn Ferry’s Workforce 2025 survey of 15,000 global employees, 78% of leaders said they believe they have AI figured out, but only 39% of workers agreed. In another survey, 42% of CHROs said they’re prioritizing investments in AI for HR, but only 5% of their teams feel prepared to put it into practice.

Together, the data reveal a widening gap between belief and readiness.

Effectively leveraging AI, it turns out, depends less on technology itself—and more on the people leading it.

“The organizations set to get the most out of AI are those that help humans and machines work better together,” says Korn Ferry’s Karin Visser. “It’s going to mean rethinking what great leadership looks like.”

But what might AI-ready leadership look like in practice?

The AI-Ready Leadership Checklist

“When the transformation gets tough or the path isn’t clear, AI-ready leaders are the anchor that holds the vision steady.”
Bryan Ackermann, Korn Ferry

As Korn Ferry’s Human + AI research shows, the biggest barriers to AI are human, not technical. The leaders who will thrive are the ones who combine human judgment with machine intelligence in ways people can trust and follow.

This checklist brings together Korn Ferry insights on the qualities that matter most in the AI era. It offers a simple way to spot AI-ready leadership potential and to see how it shows up in everyday work.

1. Sustain the Vision

AI-ready leaders keep everyone connected to a clear, long-term view of how AI will help the business. When priorities shift or challenges pile up, they hold the direction steady, so people don’t lose sight of where they’re heading.

What this looks like in practice:

Brings people back to the “why” when direction of workload feels unclear
Helps the team reset priorities when focus starts to drift
Shares simple, regular updates so people know what’s happening, even when progress is uneven

2. Take Decisive Action

Some decisions can’t wait. AI-ready leaders act with urgency, but not at the expense of judgment. They help teams see what needs to move now, what can wait, and what may need to stop—keeping progress meaningful rather than rushed.

What this looks like in practice:

Makes the next steps clear when priorities shift or new information lands
Sets a pace the team can keep, avoiding burnout or stalled progress
Steps in with a decision when discussions drag on or the team feels stuck

3. Prioritize for Impact, Not Activity

Not all work has equal value. Effective leaders focus their time and energy on the AI efforts that will make the biggest difference. They move beyond scattered pilots and concentrate on the work that creates real value for the business.

What this looks like in practice:

Identifies which AI efforts matter most so people focus their time where it counts
Helps teams stop or pause low-value tasks that distract from shared goals
Reviews outcomes often and changes course quickly when something isn’t delivering

4. Stay Curious and Keep Improving

Curiosity fuels progress. Leaders who stay open to new ideas don’t assume today’s win will hold. They test, learn, and look for better ways to work with AI—knowing that what creates value now may need to evolve quickly.

What this looks like in practice:

Leads by example by asking thoughtful questions and showing they’re still learning, too
Tests new ideas with the team to build on what’s working
Keeps people exploring options so early successes don’t become the finish line

5. Support Learning—and Unlearning

The future demands both new skills and new mindsets. AI-ready leaders help people build the capabilities they need for tomorrow and let go of habits that no longer serve the work. They make learning feel natural, relevant, and safe.

What this looks like in practice:

Fosters a culture where people feel safe experimenting and trying new approaches
Helps teams build new skills as they see where AI can make work easier or better
Works with people to redesign workflows that no longer fit the work

6. Lead with Honesty and Care

AI can raise real concerns about roles, jobs, and the future. Leaders who bring authenticity and care to these conversations help people feel seen and supported, even when the path ahead is uncertain.

What this looks like in practice:

Creates space for open questions, especially when people feel unsure about change
Talks plainly about how roles may evolve so the future feels clearer
Follows through on commitments so people know they can rely on them

Getting Started: What CHROs Can Do Now

With all the talk about AI, it can feel like everything about leadership needs to change overnight. It doesn’t. Begin by shifting your focus toward the mindsets and capabilities that will help leaders adapt and thrive.

Here’s how:

Revisit success profiles to include adaptability, accountability, and collaboration
Integrate AI-readiness into assessments used for promotions and succession
Coach leaders on working confidently alongside AI—focusing on mindset, not just metrics
Pilot development pathways that build experimentation and cross-functional learning
Foster open dialogue about how teams can grow with AI, not compete against it

Steps to Embedding AI Readiness
Month 1

Conduct a leadership gap analysis
Month 3

Update success profiles and assessment questions
Month 6

Launch pilot development track for AI-ready traits
Month 12

Embed AI-readiness into enterprise-wide succession planning

The Future Demands More Than Technical Talent

AI can accelerate performance, automate decisions, and reshape jobs, but it can’t lead.

In a human + AI world, the best leaders are likely to be those who elevate human insight, model courage, and build cultures of trust and possibility.

Want to assess whether your leadership pipeline is truly future-ready?

Explore The Essential Guide to Leadership Assessments to discover how Korn Ferry helps organizations measure what matters most and build the leaders this new era demands.

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FAQs

Here are some of the most common questions leaders ask about AI-ready leadership.

Which Behaviors Are Most Important for AI-Ready Leaders?

Our research and field observations point to several leadership behaviors that appear increasingly important in guiding teams through AI-driven change.

AI-ready leaders often demonstrate:

Future-Focused Thinking: staying curious about what’s next and imagining new ways to unlock human and AI potential
Action Orientation: translating ideas into meaningful progress, even amid uncertainty
Accountability: following through on commitments and creating a culture where people own their actions and outcomes
Team Building: fostering trust and inclusion so teams feel confident experimenting and learning together
Collaborative Problem-Solving: bridging disciplines, translating complexity, and aligning people around shared goals

These behaviors are illustrative examples and may evolve as AI continues to reshape work and leadership.

How Can Organizations Identify AI-Ready Leaders?

Identifying AI-ready leadership starts with observation and reflection, not just metrics. Organizations can begin by:

Looking for leaders who demonstrate curiosity and composure when facing uncertainty
Recognizing those who create trust and psychological safety during periods of change
Assessing how well leaders connect human insight and data-driven judgment
Gathering feedback on collaboration and team impact, not only technical results

These indicators can provide an early view of who’s naturally adapting to the Human + AI era.

How Can CHROs Begin Developing AI-Ready Leaders Today?

Building AI-ready leadership is a gradual process—one that combines development, experimentation, and dialogue. CHROs might consider:

Using Korn Ferry’s AI-Ready Leader Success Profiles to spot the characteristics that matter most
Embedding AI-leadership themes into existing assessment and coaching programs
Creating cross-functional opportunities for leaders to experiment and learn together
Encouraging ongoing discussion about how AI can enhance, not replace, human capability

How Does Korn Ferry Help Organizations Develop AI-Ready Leaders?

Korn Ferry helps organizations translate AI ambition into leadership action by equipping individuals, teams, and systems with the clarity, mindset, and tools needed to thrive in the Human + AI era.

Our solutions, grounded in behavioral science and global leadership data, enable organizations to assess readiness, develop future-focused capabilities, and build the conditions for sustainable growth.