Workforce leadership is at a crossroads. AI is no longer hype. It's happening. Workforce redesign isn't optional. Leaders must step up to prove their value beyond compliance.
Trish Steed, Co-Founder of H3 Advisory, doesn't sugarcoat it. Workforce leaders are either leading change or falling behind.
In her conversation with Reejig Founder and CEO Siobhan Savage, she shared five critical insights that leaders need to hear.
AI dominates every conference, every industry report, and every boardroom discussion. But instead of acting, many leaders are frozen. They try to tackle everything at once. Neither approach works.
Trish's advice: start small. Focus on one or two areas where AI delivers immediate value. A deliberate approach builds confidence. It creates meaningful change.
"The true success lies somewhere in between, taking a step-by-step approach."
Workforce leaders aren't in the AI business. They're in the people business. But too many teams adopt AI without a clear link to real business needs.
AI should never be implemented for its own sake. Leaders must first understand how their company makes money. They must know what challenges it faces. Then they determine how AI solves those problems. When AI ties to business outcomes, it shifts from trendy experiment to growth engine.
"They're trying to implement AI without tying it to a critical business event, which makes it hard to get buy-in."
If you can't make a compelling business case, AI stays a buzzword.
Every enterprise is deploying AI. Almost none can see the work they're deploying it into.
The best leaders don't just know people strategy. They know how the business operates. They understand revenue models, market dynamics, and what keeps the CEO up at night.
Yet too many professionals work in isolation. They're disconnected from financial and strategic realities. If you're not reading earnings reports, tracking shareholder priorities, or aligning initiatives with company goals, you're missing a critical piece.
"One of the most valuable things leaders can do is develop a deep understanding of the business. How it makes money. Where efficiencies come from. What drives executive decision-making."
Influence comes from proving impact. Not from asking for a seat at the table.
AI isn't just automating tasks. It's redefining entire roles. If workforce leaders aren't actively reshaping work, the business will make those decisions without them.
As AI takes over repetitive and administrative tasks, new jobs and capability requirements emerge. The role isn't just about building new capabilities in employees. It's about rethinking how work is structured altogether.
From Job Architecture to Work Architecture.
"If leaders aren't part of that conversation, the risk is AI adoption happens in silos. Without considering the long-term workforce implications."
Workforce leaders need to work closely with operations, IT, and finance. They guide how AI-driven changes unfold. Otherwise, they react to workforce shifts instead of shaping them.
Professionals often talk about building capabilities in employees. But what about themselves?
AI, automation, and workforce analytics aren't just technical topics for IT teams. They are essential knowledge areas for workforce leaders. Yet many still lack the confidence and expertise to lead AI-driven workforce planning.
If you want a role in the future of work, invest in your own learning first.
"Teams focus on building capabilities in employees. But they also need to invest in themselves. Understanding AI, automation, and workforce analytics is a baseline requirement for leaders."
AI capability is compounding. Work visibility is not.
The professionals who develop AI fluency will stay ahead. Those who don't risk becoming irrelevant.
Workforce leaders have never had a bigger opportunity to lead. But leadership requires action. Not hesitation.
Trish's message is clear. Leaders must stop waiting. They must start shaping the AI-driven redesign of work.
Be bold in adopting change. Be responsible in ensuring people aren't left behind.
The future of workforce leadership isn't about titles or technology. It's about impact.