Can AI Replace You and Your Team?
“If you don’t think about your future, you cannot have one.”
-John Galsworthy
Like it or not, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is here to stay!
The Wall Street Journal recently shared in their June 21-22, 2025, article, “The Incredible Shrinking Company,” an essential quote from Andy Jassy, CEO of Amazon, “The best leaders get the most done with the least number of resources required to do the job.”
Translated for today, that means companies may be embracing AI to do tasks normally performed by workers, which could result in people being replaced by machines. While this may seem like a new and scary scenario, it’s not. Having your team considered as a commodity and easily replaceable is an all-too-real threat. Your objective is to get your team to think and act like they are invaluable to your clients/customers.
Every day, I work with executives and teams to promote and coach them toward this goal. Most people enjoy being shaped, developed, and directed. And they will strive to have you and their clients consider them a trusted advisor. The ones that don’t be wary of.
Therefore, the more you engage with your team and highlight their strengths and areas for development, the more they’ll perform for you. As a leader, you need to elicit a second and tertiary effort from everyone on your team to demonstrate their high level of performance through the results they produce. You also need to promote your team upward to your superiors to make sure they understand the achievements you are making.
Begin with one-on-one meetings with each person. Determine with them what they want to achieve and be straight with them relative to their developmental areas you see needing attention. This creates a coaching bond between you and them. Then, begin to celebrate their growth. The more you do this, the more your team will outperform. People crave acknowledgement, so be sure you give it to them.
Who knows what the future of AI holds and what jobs may fall in favor of the “least number of resources required.” So for now, find ways to demonstrate your value and that of your team. Make sure your clients know that they are being cared for by real humans who not only understand their “up-at-night” pain points but stay in it with them to figure out solutions together.
