ATD Blog
Rethinking Leadership Development in the Age of AI
Content
Evaluate how AI can help you redesign what leadership development looks like and how it shows up in leaders’ daily work.
Evaluate how AI can help you redesign what leadership development looks like and how it shows up in leaders’ daily work.
Tue Apr 14 2026
The Landscape Is Different Than Before
Content
As a senior human resources or talent development leader, when was the last time you reviewed your leadership development strategy and asked, “Is this really working?” In a landscape defined by geopolitical instability, regulatory change , economic uncertainty , and technological disruption , organizations cannot afford leadership development strategies that focus on activities costing thousands of dollars but that do not change behavior . It is critical to ensure that the strategy produces outcomes and results.
As a senior human resources or talent development leader, when was the last time you reviewed your leadership development strategy and asked, “Is this really working?” In a landscape defined by geopolitical instability, regulatory change, economic uncertainty, and technological disruption, organizations cannot afford leadership development strategies that focus on activities costing thousands of dollars but that do not change behavior. It is critical to ensure that the strategy produces outcomes and results.
Content
The landscape is also driving a feeling that we must do more with less. There is a sense of less time, less budget, and fewer employees. Many HR and talent development leaders may feel they do not have time to revamp leadership strategies due to competing priorities. However, a cost-benefit analysis may show that taking time to rethink your leadership development strategy in the age of AI will yield greater long-term organizational results.
The landscape is also driving a feeling that we must do more with less. There is a sense of less time, less budget, and fewer employees. Many HR and talent development leaders may feel they do not have time to revamp leadership strategies due to competing priorities. However, a cost-benefit analysis may show that taking time to rethink your leadership development strategy in the age of AI will yield greater long-term organizational results.
Content
Traditional approaches have been in place for decades. There is value to every approach, but leaders must be even more intentional about adopting long-term strategies that will change behavior. Research on training transfer has shown that classroom-based learning alone rarely changes behavior. Yet it is widely used across organizations as a primary learning activity. Without on-the-job application , peer reinforcement, and follow-through built into the design, participants tend to revert to previous patterns ( Baldwin & Ford, 1988 ; Blume et al., 2010 ). This is important as we consider the benefits of just-in-time coaching and learning supported by artificial intelligence.
Traditional approaches have been in place for decades. There is value to every approach, but leaders must be even more intentional about adopting long-term strategies that will change behavior. Research on training transfer has shown that classroom-based learning alone rarely changes behavior. Yet it is widely used across organizations as a primary learning activity. Without on-the-job application, peer reinforcement, and follow-through built into the design, participants tend to revert to previous patterns (Baldwin & Ford, 1988; Blume et al., 2010). This is important as we consider the benefits of just-in-time coaching and learning supported by artificial intelligence.
The Skills Leaders Will Need
Content
The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 projects that approximately 39 percent of core job skills will change by 2030, with human skills showing the greatest rise in demand.
The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 projects that approximately 39 percent of core job skills will change by 2030, with human skills showing the greatest rise in demand.
Content
Management scholar and Harvard Business Review contributor Robert Katz argued that the higher a leader rises in an organization, the more their success depends on human and conceptual skills, not technical ones. As AI is positioned to increasingly take on technical tasks, the capabilities that define effective senior leadership, such as emotional intelligence , sound judgment, complex decision-making , and the ability to lead through uncertainty , are more critical than ever. Thus, the essential question is how to ensure leaders possess the skills they need to be effective.
Management scholar and Harvard Business Review contributor Robert Katz argued that the higher a leader rises in an organization, the more their success depends on human and conceptual skills, not technical ones. As AI is positioned to increasingly take on technical tasks, the capabilities that define effective senior leadership, such as emotional intelligence, sound judgment, complex decision-making, and the ability to lead through uncertainty, are more critical than ever. Thus, the essential question is how to ensure leaders possess the skills they need to be effective.
Content
If you pick up any business book or article right now, many headlines are similar. There are discussions about tariffs, restructuring, AI disruption, and workforce transformation. Organizations are rethinking their strategies, products, and competitive positioning. What often gets left out of that conversation is leadership development. However, leaders are the ones who are enabling everything else in the business. So, it’s critical to ask, where does leadership development sit in your organization’s current strategy?
If you pick up any business book or article right now, many headlines are similar. There are discussions about tariffs, restructuring, AI disruption, and workforce transformation. Organizations are rethinking their strategies, products, and competitive positioning. What often gets left out of that conversation is leadership development. However, leaders are the ones who are enabling everything else in the business. So, it’s critical to ask, where does leadership development sit in your organization’s current strategy?
AI as a Leadership Partner, Not Just a Tool
Content
Many organizations are evaluating the use of generative AI for increased efficiency and productivity. When we examine how AI might be used in leadership development, it offers leaders an on-demand, at-your-fingertips support that may complement existing executive and leadership coaching. Some leaders may embrace it while others may cautiously survey the landscape first before engaging. Regardless of whether you sit with leveraging AI or not, there are numerous use cases for it. Research is emerging on how it may be leveraged in the workplace.
Many organizations are evaluating the use of generative AI for increased efficiency and productivity. When we examine how AI might be used in leadership development, it offers leaders an on-demand, at-your-fingertips support that may complement existing executive and leadership coaching. Some leaders may embrace it while others may cautiously survey the landscape first before engaging. Regardless of whether you sit with leveraging AI or not, there are numerous use cases for it. Research is emerging on how it may be leveraged in the workplace.
Content
As we discuss AI, note your organization’s policies, procedures, and processes related to its use. Every organization is at a different place with it as an emerging technology. It is critical to establish guardrails, governance, and parameters for how tools will be used and to protect confidentiality. Many organizations have created enterprise-approved platforms and proprietary AI tools that are built into workstreams and day-to-day leadership realities.
As we discuss AI, note your organization’s policies, procedures, and processes related to its use. Every organization is at a different place with it as an emerging technology. It is critical to establish guardrails, governance, and parameters for how tools will be used and to protect confidentiality. Many organizations have created enterprise-approved platforms and proprietary AI tools that are built into workstreams and day-to-day leadership realities.
Content
Some leaders may use AI as a tool to complete tasks. For example, drafting communications, summarizing information, and completing basic tasks. However, the greater opportunity is to use it as a leadership partner and coaching tool .
Some leaders may use AI as a tool to complete tasks. For example, drafting communications, summarizing information, and completing basic tasks. However, the greater opportunity is to use it as a leadership partner and coaching tool.
Content
In many organizations, executive and leadership coaching has traditionally been reserved for senior-level professionals and high potentials, those who have been identified within succession planning or talent planning as future leaders within the organization. This may leave early-career and mid-career leaders and individual contributors without similar support. In some cases, traditional coaching may be inaccessible due to a limited budget. Therefore, AI coaching tools may be useful for providing personalized, on-demand, just-in-time support at scale. This may be especially attractive for global or multinational organizations and companies with distributed teams.
In many organizations, executive and leadership coaching has traditionally been reserved for senior-level professionals and high potentials, those who have been identified within succession planning or talent planning as future leaders within the organization. This may leave early-career and mid-career leaders and individual contributors without similar support. In some cases, traditional coaching may be inaccessible due to a limited budget. Therefore, AI coaching tools may be useful for providing personalized, on-demand, just-in-time support at scale. This may be especially attractive for global or multinational organizations and companies with distributed teams.
Content
Additionally, leaders may find themselves making decisions in a limited timeframe, with little time to consult peers or their team. Some decisions are complex and nuanced. Leveraging a coaching bot might help one think through scenarios, generate talking points, and more, serving as a complement when a human coach is unavailable.
Additionally, leaders may find themselves making decisions in a limited timeframe, with little time to consult peers or their team. Some decisions are complex and nuanced. Leveraging a coaching bot might help one think through scenarios, generate talking points, and more, serving as a complement when a human coach is unavailable.
Content
AI-enabled leadership coaching may be beneficial. Here are five considerations for evaluating its use in your organization:
AI-enabled leadership coaching may be beneficial. Here are five considerations for evaluating its use in your organization:
Content
Cost: In a lean landscape, AI coaching may be one of the most attractive and budget-friendly options, delivering enterprise-wide support, just-in-time, and at scale. For organizations where traditional coaching is inaccessible due to limited budgets, this expands who receives developmental support.
Cost: In a lean landscape, AI coaching may be one of the most attractive and budget-friendly options, delivering enterprise-wide support, just-in-time, and at scale. For organizations where traditional coaching is inaccessible due to limited budgets, this expands who receives developmental support.
Content
Frequency: In some instances, the frequency of in-person coaching may be monthly. Supplementing with AI tools can offer increased continuity between sessions, reinforcing accountability and behavior change.
Frequency: In some instances, the frequency of in-person coaching may be monthly. Supplementing with AI tools can offer increased continuity between sessions, reinforcing accountability and behavior change.
Content
Format: Some may prefer a virtual format using app- or web-based technology, which reduces scheduling complexity and offers flexibility within demanding schedules.
Format: Some may prefer a virtual format using app- or web-based technology, which reduces scheduling complexity and offers flexibility within demanding schedules.
Content
Ease of use: For many, the ability to access support through a platform or app is simply convenient. It lessens the need for complicated scheduling.
Ease of use: For many, the ability to access support through a platform or app is simply convenient. It lessens the need for complicated scheduling.
Content
Comfort level: There are varying degrees of comfort with generative AI. For some, AI-enabled coaching may feel more accessible than working with a human coach. Personal preferences should be reflected on and considered.
Comfort level: There are varying degrees of comfort with generative AI. For some, AI-enabled coaching may feel more accessible than working with a human coach. Personal preferences should be reflected on and considered.
AI Is a Tool, Not a Strategy
Content
AI coaching is a tool , not a strategy. The real work is evaluating honestly whether your current learning and development and leadership development investments are producing behavior that aligns with its intended outcomes. This is about more than using assessments and evaluation techniques to prove a training is successful; it’s about thinking high-level and what the purpose of this function is. Training can be successful on paper, but not aligned to what’s needed. How do we ensure leadership development aligns with business results and outcomes?
AI coaching is a tool, not a strategy. The real work is evaluating honestly whether your current learning and development and leadership development investments are producing behavior that aligns with its intended outcomes. This is about more than using assessments and evaluation techniques to prove a training is successful; it’s about thinking high-level and what the purpose of this function is. Training can be successful on paper, but not aligned to what’s needed. How do we ensure leadership development aligns with business results and outcomes?
Content
Training alone rarely drives sustained behavior change. In modern workplaces, employees are increasingly using social, experiential, and peer-based social learning. They’re learning from others on LinkedIn and other social media platforms. They are spending less time using e-learning and classroom training, yet many organizations continue investing in programs that get high satisfaction scores but do not actually change behavior and produce the leadership skills needed for today and the future.
Training alone rarely drives sustained behavior change. In modern workplaces, employees are increasingly using social, experiential, and peer-based social learning. They’re learning from others on LinkedIn and other social media platforms. They are spending less time using e-learning and classroom training, yet many organizations continue investing in programs that get high satisfaction scores but do not actually change behavior and produce the leadership skills needed for today and the future.
Content
Audit what is and is not working against strategic outcomes and results. Then invest in the approaches that actually move the needle: social learning through communities of practice, peer cohorts, coaching, and just-in-time support tools. These are the approaches that have been shown to improve leaders’ skills.
Audit what is and is not working against strategic outcomes and results. Then invest in the approaches that actually move the needle: social learning through communities of practice, peer cohorts, coaching, and just-in-time support tools. These are the approaches that have been shown to improve leaders’ skills.
Evaluate Your Leadership Strategy and the Use of AI
Content
The World Economic Forum projects that 77 percent of employers globally plan to upskill their workers by 2030, yet the skills gap remains the greatest barrier to organizational transformation (World Economic Forum, 2025). For CHROs and senior leaders, it’s critical to note that the leaders who navigate what lies ahead will need emotional intelligence, sound judgment, and the ability to make complex and nuanced decisions under uncertainty. At the end of the day, those are Katz’s human skills. These skills are in demand among leaders. Are these skills targeted in your leadership development strategy?
The World Economic Forum projects that 77 percent of employers globally plan to upskill their workers by 2030, yet the skills gap remains the greatest barrier to organizational transformation (World Economic Forum, 2025). For CHROs and senior leaders, it’s critical to note that the leaders who navigate what lies ahead will need emotional intelligence, sound judgment, and the ability to make complex and nuanced decisions under uncertainty. At the end of the day, those are Katz’s human skills. These skills are in demand among leaders. Are these skills targeted in your leadership development strategy?
Content
Carve out time to really sit with your leadership strategy. If you lead leadership functions within HR, consider using a simple Stop-Start-Continue activity or a value-impact matrix. Plan to stop or significantly roll back activities that do not actually change behavior or are not aligned with strategic outcomes and results. Move toward activities proven to improve leaders’ skills. Evaluate how AI can help you redesign what leadership development looks like, who has access to it throughout your entire organization, and how it shows up in leaders’ daily work.
Carve out time to really sit with your leadership strategy. If you lead leadership functions within HR, consider using a simple Stop-Start-Continue activity or a value-impact matrix. Plan to stop or significantly roll back activities that do not actually change behavior or are not aligned with strategic outcomes and results. Move toward activities proven to improve leaders’ skills. Evaluate how AI can help you redesign what leadership development looks like, who has access to it throughout your entire organization, and how it shows up in leaders’ daily work.
Content
Interested in learning more? Check out these resources:
Interested in learning more? Check out these resources:
Content
Amplify Leadership Development With AI Coaching
Content
2026: A Year of Uncertainty and Anxiety in Talent Development
2026: A Year of Uncertainty and Anxiety in Talent Development
Content
How AI Data Helps Talent Leaders Prove Leadership Readiness
Content
The Future of Leadership: Anchor, Empower, Elevate
Content