Next Level Leadership: What AI Reveals About Your Leadership Style
Next Level Leadership: When AI becomes a mirror of our leadership – and we don’t like what we see
What if our AI reveals more about our leadership style than we would like?
Artificial intelligence is not just a tool for increasing efficiency. It is a mirror. And sometimes it shows us a picture that we would rather not see.
Between Human and Machine: Attitude becomes visible
I work with my AI almost as personally as with people. Why? Because I want to know if it is relationally 'keeping up'. Whether it senses my attitude. Whether it recognizes how much emotional intelligence I am feeding it.
Because that’s exactly what it does: It mirrors us: Our way of thinking. Our communication patterns. Our values – or what we consider them to be.
AI is not an upgrade – it is a culture test
Many treat AI like another software update. A little faster, a little smarter, a little more convenient. But it is much more than that: It is what we make of it.
If our data is shaped by biases, unspoken power patterns, or a lack of diversity – then the AI picks up exactly that. Without questioning. Without context. And without an ethical compass.
Leadership means responsibility – even for what appears automated
The great danger: AI appears neutral. Quiet. Efficient.
Yet that is exactly why many do not notice when it discriminates, excludes people, or makes wrong decisions. The impression remains: “It was the technology.” But that was not the case.
Leadership today means asking the right questions:
Who was overlooked while training the AI?
What perspectives are missing in our data?
What ethical standards guide our digital actions?
Data quality is not an IT issue – but a reflection of corporate culture
“The AI decided that” – sounds harmless, but is highly dangerous. Because with that, we hand over responsibility. It's as if we were driving in autopilot mode and letting go of the steering wheel.
Next Level Leadership means: being present in the digital space as well. Questioning decisions. And taking responsibility for what appears automated.
Conclusion: What AI reveals about our leadership
Artificial intelligence is neither good nor bad – it is the result of our attitude. And therefore an honest reflection of our leadership culture.
Anyone who wants to utilize this mirror needs the courage to reflect. The courage to ask uncomfortable questions. And the willingness to live a new form of leadership:
one that combines technological intelligence with human maturity,
that does not sacrifice everything for efficiency,
and that does not delegate responsibility but redefines it.
IT-Daily has published an article by me on this topic. You can find it here.
Author: Barbara Liebermeister
About the author Barbara Liebermeister
Barbara Liebermeister is the founder and director of IFIDZ – Institute for Leadership Culture in the Digital Age. As a management consultant, coach, and speaker, she combines business experience with scientific depth and has coined the term Alpha Intelligence®, a concept that captures the essential skills of modern leaders.
With many years of experience in leadership positions and as a coach for top decision-makers, she has been supporting companies of all sizes on their way to contemporary leadership for over two decades – practical, strategic, and effective. Insights from her work have contributed to several books on the topics of self-leadership, networking, and leadership in the digital world.
Barbara Liebermeister is a lecturer at RWTH Aachen, Kempten University, and others, and also serves as a mentor at universities in Hesse. She studied business administration, holds a master's degree in neuroscience, and has completed training as a business, management, and sports mental coach.
Outstanding work: For her pioneering efforts, she was nominated for the #digitalfemaleleader Award in 2017. In 2018, the analysis tool LEADT developed by her institute, which measures digital leadership maturity, was awarded the prestigious Wolfgang Heilmann Prize at Learntec.
