AI is Creating a Leadership Gap, and its Growing

Leadership is always evolving, but it has never had to evolve this fast. For decades, leadership models changed gradually, adapting to shifts in business, technology, and workforce expectations. Leaders had the luxury of learning through traditional L&D programs, experience, mentorship, and time.

That era is over.

Today, we’re entering a world where AI is handling data, analysis, and routine decisions faster than humans ever could.  The best practices of five years ago are already obsolete. The next generation of leaders won’t be promoted based on tenure, they’ll be chosen based on their ability to think differently, adapt quickly, and lead through complexity.

Yet, most leaders are still using outdated approaches. Many still assume that leadership is about making faster decisions when, in reality, AI has already taken over that role. The real question isn’t "How can I make better decisions?" but " How can I lead in ways AI never will?"

The Three Eras of Leadership 

The way we define leadership has always reflected the challenges of the time. But the gap between past and future has never been wider than it is today. Traditional Leadership (what I call the pre-EQ Era) was rooted in hierarchy, authority, and efficiency. Leaders were expected to give orders and not collaborate, ensure compliance and not drive innovation, and rely on experience, not adaptability. This model worked in an era of predictable business cycles and stable industry structures.

But as business landscapes became more complex, this rigid, top-down model started to break, which created the era of Modern Leadership, ushered in by the introduction of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) into the leader’s toolbox. As organizations became more dynamic, emotional intelligence (EQ) became a critical differentiator. The best leaders weren’t just those who could enforce rules, they were the ones who could understand people. Collaboration, empathy, and communication became leadership priorities. Flatter hierarchies and cross-functional teams replaced rigid reporting structures. Employees expected to be inspired and empowered, not just managed. 

The EQ revolution was a massive upgrade in leadership effectiveness, and a tool still taught as a differentiator. But the problem? EQ didn’t prepare us for AI. Leaders today aren’t just managing people, they’re managing intelligent systems, automation, and data-driven decision-making AIs.

Emotional intelligence is still critical, but it’s no longer enough. Which brings us to today’s emerging era of leadership: Synergistic Leadership, an age of cognitive agility and AI collaboration. Leaders must now learn to integrate human intelligence with AI-driven decision-making.

Synergistic Leadership requires: cognitive agility, the ability to rapidly shift thinking, challenge assumptions, and adapt to constant change; engagement with neuroplasticity and metacognition - leaders must rewire how they think, rather than just upgrading their knowledge; and strategic adaptation to AI, by understanding what AI can and cannot do.

The shift isn’t coming, it’s already happening. If you’re still leading with a pre-EQ or EQ-based model, you’re going to be quickly left behind.

The Leadership Gap

Most leaders today fall into one of two categories:

• Leaders Who Upgrade: These leaders embrace AI as a collaborator, not a competitor. They expand their cognitive agility, continuously evolving their decision-making process. They invest in rewiring how they think, rather than just adding more knowledge.

• Leaders Who Struggle: These leaders resist AI, fearing that automation will replace them. They rely on past experience, rather than upgrading their thinking. They make leadership decisions based on outdated assumptions, failing to evolve with their industries.

The difference between these two groups? One is future-proofing their leadership. The other is waiting to be disrupted. How can you be on the right side of the gap? This is what I explore in my upcoming book, Upgrade: Five Leadership Accelerators for AI-Powered Success, launching early this summer.

Stay tuned!