In a business landscape increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, workforce evolution, and global uncertainty, today’s leaders must stay informed and adaptable. This edition of Leadership Links brings together essential articles and resources that explore the future of work, the rise of agentic AI, and the tools needed to shape high-performance teams. Whether you’re refining your HR strategy or navigating workforce transformation, each link below offers timely insights that can help you lead with clarity and foresight. Use these resources to challenge your assumptions, realign your priorities, and make smarter, people-centered decisions.
How AI Is Redefining Managerial Roles
Harvard Business Review
This article outlines the growing influence of AI in middle management functions like project coordination, reporting, and day-to-day operational decisions. As AI tools become more sophisticated, they are eliminating bottlenecks and streamlining tasks that previously required human oversight. For management professionals, this shift presents both a challenge and an opportunity: how to reallocate time and energy toward more strategic leadership work. This piece is essential reading for anyone rethinking their organizational structure or planning talent development pathways.
Seizing the Agentic AI Advantage
McKinsey & Company
McKinsey explores the move from generic AI to agentic AI—systems that can independently make decisions and execute tasks within a workflow. The article emphasizes that true transformation happens when AI is embedded into the operating model, not just layered on top of it. For leaders, this requires a deeper partnership between technical and functional teams to ensure alignment between human and machine capabilities. The takeaway here is that embracing AI isn’t about adopting tools; it’s about redesigning work from the ground up.
Conversations with CHROs: IBM’s Nickle LaMoreaux
LinkedIn Talent Solutions via YouTube
In this candid 26-minute conversation, IBM CHRO Nickle LaMoreaux and LinkedIn CPO Teuila Hanson explore the evolving role of HR in shaping the future of work. From flexible work environments to talent retention, they reflect on the shift toward employee-centric practices and digital readiness. For managers, this dialogue is a useful snapshot of how senior leaders are rebalancing priorities in light of rapid workplace change. It also offers practical takeaways on how to lead with empathy and data-driven insight.
2025 Global Human Capital Trends Report
Deloitte Insights
This flagship Deloitte report explores how organizations can unlock capacity by redesigning work rather than simply managing performance. Topics range from the reinvention of leadership to building human sustainability into workforce strategy. Managers will appreciate the actionable frameworks that help leaders shift from reactive decision-making to proactive talent cultivation. It is an essential resource for aligning team goals with long-term organizational transformation.
The Future of Recruiting 2025
LinkedIn Talent Solutions
LinkedIn’s recruiting trends report delves into AI’s role in shaping the next evolution of hiring, especially in the context of skills-based hiring and quality-of-hire metrics. As job descriptions become less about titles and more about capabilities, managers must learn to hire and promote based on actual output and future potential. The report also addresses the growing ethical considerations around AI-driven hiring. For talent leaders and people managers, this is a roadmap to building fairer, more effective recruiting systems.
Future of Jobs Report 2025
World Economic Forum
This 290-page deep dive offers a global perspective on how job roles and skill needs are shifting across sectors. Backed by data and employer forecasts, it maps out which roles are declining, which are growing, and what skills will define the next generation of work. Managers can use these insights to future-proof their teams and rethink professional development strategies. It is especially useful for those involved in workforce planning or cross-functional upskilling.
Workforce Transformation in the AI Era
Oliver Wyman Forum
Focusing specifically on page 34 of this expansive report, Oliver Wyman explores how AI is accelerating the evolution of workplace design and employee expectations. The article breaks down how companies can reposition roles to leverage AI while preserving a sense of purpose and autonomy for workers. For managers, it reinforces the need to design with both efficiency and employee experience in mind. It’s a forward-looking resource for those shaping hybrid teams or digital-first organizations.
Global Skills Taxonomy Adoption Toolkit
World Economic Forum
This 47-page toolkit introduces a shared language for skills that can be used across sectors to improve hiring, training, and workforce planning. Managers tasked with evaluating performance or guiding development conversations will find the taxonomy a helpful reference. It simplifies the alignment between individual capabilities and organizational goals, especially in skills-based environments. The toolkit is a powerful step toward building consistent, fair, and future-ready talent practices.
If you found this edition of Leadership Links valuable, imagine what you could gain as a member of the Society for Advancement of Management (SAM). Our members enjoy exclusive access to expert insights, hands-on toolkits, live training sessions, and a vibrant community of professionals committed to ethical and effective management. Whether you’re advancing your career, mentoring others, or simply staying informed, SAM offers the resources to help you lead with confidence in a rapidly evolving workplace.
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