Our world is changing faster than ever, and technologies like artificial intelligence are transforming our workplaces. Here we look at what that means for future leaders and which leadership skills are becoming essential today.

1. 10 Essential Leadership
Qualities For
The Age Of
Artificial Intelligence

2. © 2020 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Title
Text
IntroductionIntroduction
Our world is changing faster than ever, and technologies like artificial intelligence are
transforming our workplaces. Here we look at what that means for future leaders and
which leadership skills are becoming essential today.
AI and automation will change the very nature of work. It’s really important that leaders
don’t ignore this AI- and data-driven revolution – what I call the “intelligence revolution”
– or allow other leaders in the organization to ignore it. Working out how to use AI,
dealing with people-related challenges, avoiding the ethical pitfalls of AI, making sure
you have the right technology in place, and so on – all are key considerations for the
business leaders of today and tomorrow.
10 Essential Leadership Qualities For The Age Of
Artificial Intelligence

3. © 2020 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Title
Text
IntroductionIntroduction
This technology revolution will change what it means to be a good leader. It makes
sense, then, that business leaders in the intelligence revolution will need to adapt. The
way we run businesses will change, and the successful leaders of the future will need a
slightly different skillset from the traditional skills associated with leaders.
What sort of skills are we talking about? I believe successful leaders in the intelligence
revolution will need to cultivate the following 10 leadership skills:
10 Essential Leadership Qualities For The Age Of
Artificial Intelligence

4. © 2020 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
10 Essential Leadership Qualities For The Age Of
Artificial Intelligence
1. Agility. The pace of change, particularly with AI, is astonishing. Leaders must therefore
be able to embrace and celebrate change (including new technologies). And, importantly,
they should not view change as a burden, but see it as an opportunity to grow and
innovate, both at an individual and organizational level.
2. Emotional intelligence. As more and more workplace activities become automated,
softer skills like emotional intelligence and empathy will become more critical for human
workers. And if we expect the workplaces of the future to prioritize such human skills, it
stands to reason that leaders must model these behaviors themselves.
3. Cultural intelligence. The workplaces of the future will be even more diverse, global
and dispersed than they are today. Effective leaders will be able to appreciate and
leverage the differences individuals bring to the table, and to respect and work well with
people from all backgrounds – even when they share a different world view.

5. © 2020 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
10 Essential Leadership Qualities For The Age Of
Artificial Intelligence
4. Humility. Confidence will still be an important trait in leaders, but the successful
leaders of the future will be able to strike a balance between confidence and humility.
They will see themselves as facilitators and collaborators, rather than critical cogs to
success. In other words, they’ll encourage others to shine.
5. Accountability. Flatter organizational structures, more project-based teams,
partnership working – all of these things will lead to organizations becoming more
transparent and collaborative. Leaders will therefore need to be more transparent and
hold themselves accountable. What’s more, their actions must be in clear alignment with
the company’s goals.
6. Vision. To understand the impact of AI on the business and all of its stakeholders,
leaders in the intelligence revolution will need that big-picture vision. How will AI
transform the organization and lead to new business opportunities? It’s up to leaders to
determine this, while managing stakeholders’ needs effectively.

6. © 2020 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
10 Essential Leadership Qualities For The Age Of
Artificial Intelligence
7. Courage. We’ve barely scratched the surface of what AI can do, so leaders will need the
courage to face the uncertain, the courage to fail fast, and the courage to change course
when the situation calls for a new strategy. As part of this, they’ll need the courage to
identify their own weaknesses and be open to coaching and learning. (In fact, as skills
become outdated even more quickly in the future, successful leaders will need to cultivate
a culture of learning right across the business.)
8. Intuition. There’s no doubt that data-driven decision making is the way forward, but
that doesn't mean intuition and instinct will become obsolete, far from it. Particularly as
workplaces undergo rapid change, leaders will still require that uniquely human skill of
intuition, of being able to “read” what’s not being said.
9. Authenticity. Any new technology brings with it issues around ethics and misuse, not
to mention issues around change management. Leaders in the intelligence revolution will
therefore need to be able to build trust with customers, employees, and other
stakeholders – and that means exuding authenticity. This will become especially important
in times of uncertainty, change, or failure.

7. © 2020 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
10 Essential Leadership Qualities For The Age Of
Artificial Intelligence
10. Focus. Finally, with the incredible pace of change, and the continual need to adapt,
future leaders will need to maintain a laser-like focus on the organization’s strategic
objectives. They’ll need to be able to cut through the chaos and hype to identify what’s
really important – especially the initiatives and technology that will help the organization
deliver on its goals.
The key takeaway here is that human leadership skills will be just as important in the
intelligence revolution, if not more so. People are, and will remain, the most important
asset for any business. But what we prize as key leadership skills in the future may look
very different to the traditional leadership skills that are valued today. I predict that these
softer, more human skills – things like humility and emotional intelligence – will become
much more important going forward.
AI is going to impact businesses of all shapes and sizes, across all industries. Discover how
to prepare your organization for an AI-driven world in my new book, The Intelligence
Revolution: Transforming Your Business With AI.

8. Bernard Marr is an internationally best-selling author, popular keynote speaker, futurist, and a
strategic business & technology advisor to governments and companies. He helps
organisations improve their business performance, use data more intelligently, and
understand the implications of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data,
blockchains, and the Internet of Things.
LinkedIn has ranked Bernard as one of the world’s top 5 business influencers. He is a frequent
contributor to the World Economic Forum and writes a regular column for Forbes. Every day
Bernard actively engages his 1.5 million social media followers and shares content that
reaches millions of readers.
Visit The
Website
© 2020 Bernard Marr , Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved© 2017 Bernard Marr , Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
© 2020 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Bernard Marr is an internationally best-selling author, popular keynote speaker, futurist, and a
strategic business & technology advisor to governments and companies. He helps
organisations improve their business performance, use data more intelligently, and
understand the implications of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data,
blockchains, and the Internet of Things.
LinkedIn has ranked Bernard as one of the world’s top 5 business influencers. He is a frequent
contributor to the World Economic Forum and writes a regular column for Forbes. Every day
Bernard actively engages his 1.5 million social media followers and shares content that
reaches millions of readers.
Visit The
Website

9. Title
Subtitle
Be the FIRST to receive news,
articles, insights and event
updates from Bernard Marr & Co
straight to your inbox.
Signing up is EASY! Simply fill out
the online form and we’ll be in
touch!
© 2020 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved

10. BernardMarr
hello@bernardmarr.com
www.bernardmarr.com