September 30, 2026
Leaders set the tone for how their teams respond to change. A manager who is apprehensive about a new system or way of working can unintentionally influence how willing their employees are to embrace it.
The same can be said for AI integration.
As AI becomes an increasingly common part of the workplace, successful adoption will depend on more than simply giving employees access to the right tools. Managers need to be prepared to understand, adopt, and confidently guide their teams through the change.
1. Managers Need AI Literacy Too
Managers don’t need to become AI experts, but they do need a strong understanding of what these tools can and cannot do. This means recognizing where AI can add value, where human judgment remains essential, and the potential risks that come with its use.
Yet, there is still a significant knowledge gap among business leaders. According to The Conference Board, while 83% of S&P 500 companies identified AI as a risk in 2025, only 23% of surveyed executives considered their boards highly fluent in AI.
For managers expected to guide employees through AI adoption, building this understanding is an important first step. After all, it is difficult to confidently lead a team through a change you don’t fully understand yourself.
For some directors, the natural response is education. And for good reason: Boards need enough AI literacy to understand what management is proposing, where the risks sit, and how the technology may affect strategy, customers, operations, people, and reputation.
2. Why Manager Readiness Matters
AI may change how work gets done, but it doesn’t remove the need for human judgment or accountability. As Harvard Business School (2026) notes, managers increasingly need to determine what can be delegated to AI, what requires human oversight, and who remains responsible for the outcome.
Without this preparation, teams risk unclear responsibilities, inconsistent AI use, and overreliance on outputs that still require human judgment. Managers also need to establish clear expectations around when AI should be used, how its work should be reviewed, and when employees should step in.
At Fisher, our training programs and workshops help organizations equip their leaders and teams with the skills they need to navigate a changing workplace with confidence.
Get in touch with Fisher today to explore training solutions tailored to your organization’s needs: [email protected]
