According to a recent article published by Forbes in collaboration with SAP, the biggest value of AI comes when leaders invest in human ingenuity, not only technology [1].

This matches what I see in practice.

In 2025, Deloitte reports that over 70 percent of AI programs fail to scale because teams do not trust or understand the systems they use [2]. McKinsey shows that companies that combine AI with strong leadership and skills development achieve up to 40 percent higher productivity gains [3]. Academic research from 2024 confirms that human centered AI leadership improves adoption, ethics, and long term value [4].

The message is clear.

AI leadership is not about tools. It is about people./

Strong AI leaders focus on:

-Teaching teams how AI supports their work

-Creating safe spaces to question AI outputs

-Keeping human judgment at the center of decisions

>If you ignore this, you lose twice.
Your AI investment underperforms, and your people disengage.

For SMEs, this is urgent. Many teams already use AI daily, often without guidance, training, or clear leadership. That is where risk and missed value grow.

Centralink helps leaders build practical AI leadership models that balance technology, people, and responsibility. Clear, realistic, and aligned with EU rules.

How are you preparing your people for an AI-driven workplace?

Leave a comment below or contact us via info@centralink.nl for a free consulting session.

References

[1] Forbes & SAP. (2025). AI leadership: How to elevate your team through human ingenuity.

[2] Deloitte. (2025). AI adoption and leadership readiness.

[3] McKinsey & Company. (2025). The human side of AI performance.

[4] Jarrahi, M. H. et al. (2024). Human AI collaboration and leadership. Journal of Business Research.