Evolving in the World of AI: Why Human-Centered Leadership Still Wins

Guest Editorial by Corryn Kivett, Founder & CEO, Evolution Room

Let’s face it. Change can be hard.

We all say we want to grow, improve, or evolve, yet when it comes down to making real changes, most people wait until the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the pain of doing something about it. Someone knows it's time to get healthy yet waits until a diagnosis forces their hand. Employees complain about their job, but don't update their resume until the Sunday Scaries turn into full-blown burnout.

It’s human nature.

Corryn Kivett

Now throw artificial intelligence into the mix, a powerful tool that’s revolutionizing industries, redefining workflows, and stirring up everything we thought we knew about work. It's exciting, but for many teams, it’s also overwhelming. Because underneath the promise of efficiency and innovation, one thing remains true:

We still live and work in a world of people.

And people resist change - not because they’re difficult, but because they’re human. If you’re a leader or manager navigating the transition into an AI-integrated workplace, your greatest advantage won’t be the tech itself - it will be your ability to communicate with and lead people through the process.

If your organization wants to adopt more AI, or is already facing resistance around change, here are a few essential things to keep in mind:

1. The most important person in the world to your employee… is your employee.

This isn’t selfishness; it’s survival. People are wired to prioritize their own safety, security, and value. So when you introduce something like AI, the first unconscious question your team will ask is: What does this mean for me?

That’s why the key to getting buy-in is personalization.

Don’t just talk about how AI will improve company-wide metrics. Tailor the message to show how it will make their job easier, reduce their stress, or free them up to focus on more meaningful work. When people feel considered, not just managed, they're far more likely to embrace the shift.

2. Resistance is rarely about the thing you think it is.

Many managers take resistance personally. They assume their team is being negative or stubborn when in reality, resistance often signals something deeper - fear of being replaced, confusion about expectations, lack of clarity, or even past experiences where change didn’t go well.

The best leaders get curious instead of combative. Ask open-ended questions:

• What concerns do you have about this transition?

• What would make this easier for you?

• What’s most important to you in your role right now?

When people feel seen and heard, they let down their guard. And when you uncover the real roadblocks, you can actually do something about them.

3. It’s not just what you say, it’s how you say it.

Tone and delivery matter. People are constantly reading between the lines, picking up cues from your body language, facial expressions, and energy. If you're communicating change from a place of anxiety or force, your team will feel it, even if your words sound “motivational.”

Instead, lead with authenticity and empathy.

• Are you presenting the change as a shared opportunity - or a mandate?

• Are you leaving space for dialogue - or just trying to “get everyone on board”?

• Are you embodying calm confidence - or unspoken urgency?

Remember: people respond to how they feel around you more than what you say.

Bottom Line: AI Might Be the Future, But Humans Are Still the Now.

Yes, AI is powerful. It’s here, and it’s not going anywhere. And if we’re going to leverage it fully, we must evolve not just technologically, but emotionally and relationally.

Change won’t happen overnight. However, when leaders understand how humans operate - what motivates us, what scares us, and how we communicate - transformation becomes not only possible but sustainable.

So before you roll out your next AI initiative, ask yourself:Am I leading the change, or just launching it?

Because in a world advancing faster than ever, your ability to evolve with your people might just be your greatest competitive edge.

---

Corryn Kivett is an NLP Master Coach & Trainer and the founder of Evolution Room™, a company dedicated to helping business owners and leaders break through plateaus and unlock their next level of performance. With a background in the science of human behavior and communication, Corryn specializes in helping teams adopt change without resistance by understanding how people truly operate. Her work blends mindset, strategy, and psychology to help leaders create sustainable success in a fast-evolving world.