AI is coming to your team. I've started getting ready - have you?

I lead a large digital team filled with technical specialists. The tools we use are going to get smarter. AI will start to show up in more of what we do. It's coming.

Soon, we won't just be managing people. We'll be managing systems. People and AI working side by side. I'm really excited by this!

But here's the shift. To lead well in the future, we need to understand what every part of the team is meant to do, human or not. This is easy if, like me, you're a digital generalist, you've done every role in the team and you understand the day to day work of your staff.

But if you're leading a team and you don't know enough about their role (especially when leading technical teams) then you'll struggle to lead with clarity, and intention. You won't know when to push, when to question, or when something's gone off track.

Here's something you should start doing:

• Get curious about how the AI tools actually work: You don't have to be a tech expert but you do need to understand what the AI is doing, and where it adds value. If it's going to be part of your team, you need to know what you're trusting it with.

• Talk more about outcomes, not just tasks: AI doesn't replace people. But it does change how work gets done. Our job as leaders is to make sure everyone knows what success looks like so that people and tools are aligned, not in conflict.

• Build a broader skillset: My team are technical specialists. That works for me because I'm also a technical specialist but if you're not, as a leader you need to stretch. You need to understand the technical enough to ask good questions, and the human enough to keep people connected.

• I'm staying close to my team's experience: When AI shows up, people get curious and anxious. We've had honest conversations about what may change, what's not, and what support looks like. That trust makes every change easier.

AI isn't here to replace leadership but it will raise the bar. If you want to stay credible as leaders, you need to know how the whole system works, not just the human side.