Managers face the strain as companies navigate AI transformation

This gap is placing increased pressure on middle managers, with 66% of respondents anticipating they will spend more time guiding their teams through change than managing daily tasks. The findings, published by the global organizational consulting firm on October 22, are based on a survey of over 1,300 leaders across more than 75 countries.

The concerns extend beyond leadership preparedness. A substantial 77% of respondents cite capability gaps as a greater challenge than talent shortages, and 78% believe insufficient individuals are ready for the future of work.

As companies integrate AI, middle managers often find themselves bridging the divide between executive ambitions and practical implementation. These managers frequently explain decisions they didn’t make, a situation Susan De La Vega, senior vice president of global tech market and client experience at Korn Ferry, describes as managers “defending and communicating for AI mandates that they had no say in and little context.”

Korn Ferry’s findings echo a broader trend. A Gallup poll from May found that only 25% of U.S. employees reported a clear AI integration plan from their organizations, despite 47% reporting AI tool adoption. Gallup’s analysis also linked clear communication to higher employee engagement, with 43% of employees engaged when a clear plan existed, compared to 28% otherwise. Managerial support for AI use also significantly impacted engagement, with 48% of engaged employees reporting their manager actively supports AI use.

De La Vega emphasizes that leadership must lead by example, learning AI tools themselves to communicate effectively about changes. She also advocates for job-specific training and allowing room for experimentation. Crucially, managers need to be briefed on the rationale behind decisions before they are communicated to their teams.

Ultimately, De La Vega warns that effective AI implementation requires more than just technology; it demands a supportive system for those on the front lines, stating, “the ‘shock absorbers’ need a system behind them to operate.”

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com