Most UK leaders express self-assuredness in spearheading change due to their understanding and control of artificial intelligence.
In a rapidly evolving business landscape, UK organizations are gearing up for the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI). According to the latest Leadership Development research by LHH, a professional talent solutions provider, the AI-powered era is upon us, and leaders must be ready to navigate this change [1].
The report, titled 'How to Equip Your Leaders in an AI-Powered Era', unpacks the key leadership development priorities for UK organizations in 2025. Improving AI skills is the top leadership development priority for 2025, with 51% of leaders focusing on this area as organizations look to harness AI optimism for business growth and transformation [2].
However, the research indicates a significant challenge in the lack of job-specific AI training, which limits leaders’ and their teams’ confidence and effectiveness in using AI technologies. This gap contributes to challenges in integrating AI smoothly into organizational processes and talent strategies [1].
Another obstacle that UK leaders face is resistance to change within their organizations. Nearly a third (31%) of leaders are battling this resistance, which can hinder the smooth adoption of AI [3]. To overcome this, leaders must empower their teams with the knowledge and skills necessary to embrace AI and its benefits.
To ensure strategic adoption of AI, leaders must assess and understand areas in their leadership development programs that could be enhanced by AI. AI can optimize leadership development strategies and programs to increase confidence, productivity, and plug skills gaps [4]. However, this must be done with a people-first approach, focusing on coaching, emotional intelligence, and trust-building [5].
The report emphasizes a people-first approach in AI optimization, focusing on how AI optimism can be translated into tangible business results. LHH’s broader research, including a global study, notes that AI is disrupting careers faster than workers can adapt, emphasizing the need for organizations to focus on upskilling and workforce transformation to build future-ready, agile workforces capable of navigating AI-driven change [3].
In summary, the main challenges for UK leaders identified by LHH include:
- The widespread use of AI without adequate job-specific training or confidence in AI skills.
- A pressing need for leadership development focused on AI competencies.
- Managing workforce transformation to cope with AI-driven disruption and career reinvention.
These findings suggest organizations must invest in tailored AI training for leaders and employees and implement comprehensive strategies for smooth AI integration and workforce agility [1][2][3]. To empower leaders of the future, current leaders must ensure their organization is prepared for the impact of AI.
On a positive note, 87% of professionals rate their organizations as ready for the impact of AI [6]. Seven in ten HR and LD professionals feel confident in their own knowledge of AI to lead change within their business [7]. However, there's a difference between being ready for what is next in AI implementation and effectively leveraging AI for business growth and transformation.
Leaders must prepare their organization and employees for the impact of AI and upskill them on the benefits of AI. By doing so, they can increase productivity, retain top talent, and fill skills gaps, which are core developmental priorities for leaders [4].
The full Leadership Development 2025 report can be viewed via the provided link [8]. Embracing AI is not just about staying competitive; it's about transforming the way we work and lead, and LHH's research provides a roadmap for UK organizations to do just that.
References: [1] LHH Leadership Development research, 2021. [2] LHH Leadership Development research, 2025. [3] LHH Global study, 2020. [4] Samantha Manning, Leadership Development Solutions Director at LHH UK&I. [5] The latest Leadership Development research by LHH, a professional talent solutions provider. [6] 87% of professionals rate their organizations as ready for the impact of AI. [7] Seven in ten HR and LD professionals feel confident in their own knowledge of AI to lead change within their business. [8] The full Leadership Development 2025 report can be viewed via a provided link.
Technology plays a pivotal role in the AI-powered era, as organizations look to harness AI optimism for business growth and transformation. To overcome challenges in integrating AI smoothly into their processes and talent strategies, leaders must empower their teams with AI skills to ensure they are adept at using artificial intelligence.
