While You're Chasing AI, Your Front Line Leaders Control Whether It Lands

Every organisation is scrambling for the next AI breakthrough. ChatGPT subscriptions, automation tools, machine learning platforms—billions of dollars are being poured into technology that promises to revolutionise productivity.

Meanwhile, the real productivity multiplier is sitting in your office right now, probably struggling through their first performance review.

The AI Distraction

Don't get me wrong—AI is impressive. Studies show productivity gains of 8-66% for individual tasks.

But here's what the headlines aren't telling you: most organisations haven't seen meaningful bottom-line impacts from AI yet.

Why? Because while AI can optimise tasks, it can't lead people through change. And in a world drowning in transformation—AI adoption, hybrid work models, market volatility, economic uncertainty—it's not the technology that makes or breaks success.

It's leadership.

The 70% Factor Everyone's Ignoring

While you're investing in AI tools hoping for productivity gains, your front line leaders are already controlling 70% of your team's performance. And most of them? They're winging it.

87% of new leaders report feeling unprepared for people leadership. 60% of new managers never receive leadership training. They're promoted because they were great at their technical skills—the same "doing" abilities that AI is increasingly automating.

Where Change Really Breaks Down

Every AI implementation ultimately lands on people. And when leaders lack the skills to guide that change, even the smartest technology collapses under human friction.

Here's what actually happens:

The AI tool gets purchased, but teams don't adopt it because communication is unclear.

Productivity gains evaporate because work bottlenecks at overwhelmed managers who can't delegate.

Innovation stalls because people resist change that wasn't led with confidence.

AI can generate strategy, but only leaders can make it land.

The Bottom Line

AI will continue to evolve, automate, and optimise. But workplace change succeeds or fails on a fundamentally human level.

Every algorithm needs an advocate. Every automation needs an adoption champion. Every digital tool needs someone who can help people embrace it.

You can have the most sophisticated AI stack in your industry, but if your leaders can't lead people through change, you'll join the majority of organisations that see impressive demos but disappointing results.

The question isn't whether to invest in AI. It's whether you're investing in the leaders who will determine whether that AI actually transforms your business.

The 70% multiplier is already on your payroll. The question is: are you developing it?