Leadership and Human Intelligence: Why I'm Writing a Book About This...
Updated: 3 hours ago
Technology can provide information, automate processes and optimise existing systems, but it cannot determine what kind of future we want to build. That's up to us.
A few months ago, I was having coffee with a friend and as with most conversations these days, we got on to the topic of AI and work. We started discussing the new technology – how she was using it and how it might affect her day to day tasks at her job. Somewhere in the conversation, she paused and said...
"I've spent my entire career becoming good at this, and now it can be done by a machine in seconds... what value do I bring?"
I realised that this wasn't just a conversation about technology. It was about identity and purpose. It was about what work means for us, beyond a salary.
Why Work Matters
Work is so much more than a collection of tasks. For many of us, it's where we spend most of our waking lives. It's where we learn, contribute, build relationships, experience challenge and often discover a big part of who we are.
Work can be a source of purpose, growth, connection and fulfilment. Equally, we know that it can contribute to stress, disengagement, anxiety and burnout. Work has the power to bring out the best in people, but it can also diminish us when the conditions are not right.
We are living through a profound shift in the nature of work.
Artificial intelligence is reshaping roles, automating tasks and changing how organisations operate. In many ways, that's exciting because it has the potential to free us from repetitive work.
But there is also a deeper psychological question that it raises:
What happens when work - one of our primary sources of identity, competence and meaning - begins to shift beneath our feet?
And, how can we lead in ways that not only enable people to adapt to the changes, but to continue to contribute and thrive?
That's the question that sits at the heart of my upcoming book:
Leading with Human Intelligence: Effective and Ethical Leadership in the Age of AI.
Because while the technologies may be new, the underlying human needs are not.
People still want purpose. They still want connection. They still want to feel valued, respected and able to contribute meaningfully. They still need trust, belonging and psychological safety. And they still look to one another for guidance during periods of uncertainty and change.
That is why I am writing this book.
What are the leadership capabilities that matter most?
In an era of rapid technological advancement, the leadership skills and qualities that will matter most will be those that machines cannot replicate. More than ever, organisational and team leaders need to be able to build trust, understand others and strengthen connection. They need to be able to exercise judgement and make informed decisions.
In the book, I outline:
what those key leadership capabilities look like
why they matter now more than ever, and
how we can practically cultivate them in ourselves, our teams, and across our organisations.
Technology can help us gather, analyse and summarise information but information alone does not tell us what matters, what is ethical, what is fair or what is worth pursuing. Those questions require a different kind of wisdom - that’s what this book is about.
I bring together what I’ve learnt over the last 20+ years working as an organisational consultant, occupational psychologist, psychotherapist and executive coach. My hope is to start a thoughtful conversation about the future of leadership, work and human flourishing.
Technological progress has never guaranteed human progress. That depends on the choices we make - about how we design work around new technologies, how we exercise leadership in the process, and, ultimately, what we believe organisations exist to do.
After all, if technology and organisations are not built to ultimately serve human flourishing – what are they for?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(To stay updated on my progress with the book, see sneak previews, discount codes, pre-order links and join in the discussion, do sign up to my 'Book Friends' list at the bottom of this page: https://www.rewireconsulting.com/books)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Pooja Sachdev is the co-author of 'Rewire: A Radical Approach to Tackling Diversity and Difference', published by Bloomsbury and described by the FT as "the most refreshing approach to diversity I have read."
She is a coach, counsellor, consultant, and founder of Rewire Consulting.
Specialising in organisational development, diversity & inclusion, and leadership, Rewire helps build positive work cultures that enable people, teams and organisations to fulfill their potential.
