Leadership Minute: How To Be Antifragile In The Age of AI

It's important to understand AI's likely disruptions. But don't panic--do this instead

I like to occasionally use the Leadership Minute to explore Friday Forward concepts in more detail and explicate the leadership lessons within those stories. Last week, I wrote about the conversations parents should be having with their kids about preparing for a future shaped by AI. Today, I want to examine that topic in a bit more depth.

The AI conversation is not just a talk parents must have with children. Every single one of us—especially current and aspiring leaders—must reflect on the coming AI-oriented future and take steps prepare for what will be a rapidly approaching new normal.

I am becoming increasingly convinced that thriving in the world of AI will come down to three traits: the right mindset, the right skills, and the right professions.

The Right Mindset

Every technological innovation in history had its skeptics—and I myself am first to tell people to avoid maximalist hype. But I remember CEOs who bragged about their refusal to use email in the early 2000s, and the irrelevance those leaders quickly experienced is a warning to people who reflexively oppose AI today.

To excel in an AI-driven world, we must orient our mindsets around humility, learning and adaptability. While it’s comfortable to listen to AI skeptics who tell us the technology is overhyped, growth comes when we exit that comfort bubble, confront realities that are a bit scary, and learn in the process. The people who succeed in a world that will be increasingly informed by AI will be those who put aside their fear about the technology, push themselves to understand it, and identify ways to work with AI rather than without it.

The right AI mindset shift will involve self-awareness. Every professional should be asking themselves: what do I bring to the table that AI cannot? Conversely, what weaknesses do I have that AI can help mitigate? Understanding your unique human value—whether it’s creativity, the ability to build relationships, or the capacity to lead and inspire others—is key to staying relevant.

The Right Skills

People who take a learning approach to AI will quickly find that this technology has clear limitations and realize they can fill those gaps by fostering the right abilities.

For example, AI’s Achilles heel today is emotional intelligence. AI can brainstorm ideas and analyze information, but it cannot yet understand, motivate, inspire and coordinate people.

The highest-performing leaders aren’t solely analytical experts; they are master communicators, capable of building strong cultures, hiring and elevating the right people, and aligning teams toward a common goal. Likewise, some of the best employees anticipate leadership’s needs, build trust, and relate to others. I expect these skills to become more vital as AI takes over more of the technical workload.

Another flaw in AI is the lack of credibility of its output. Here’s what that means, and why this may be the biggest opportunity for humans.