Middle managers are essential for AI success

Companies large and small are scrambling to implement AI in hopes of boosting productivity, while many are also stripping out the very leadership backbone needed to guide that change: managers. That’s a dangerous contradiction. AI adoption won’t fail because of the platform a company chooses. It will fail if the people employees trust most, their managers, aren’t equipped to understand artificial intelligence, or if those roles disappear altogether.

In today’s climate of employee disengagement, burnout, and change fatigue, employees are resistant to yet another transformation. Thirty-one percent admit they’re actively working against their company’s AI initiatives. No platform, no matter how powerful, can overcome that level of pushback without leaders stepping in to bridge the gap.

Enter the middle manager. Whether you call them people leaders or frontline supervisors, they are the best (and often only) individuals to help employees understand the “why” and the “what’s in it for me.” Yet only 34% of managers feel prepared to support AI adoption.

It’s clear that managers have the promise and power to help employees navigate change—but context is key. Our research at Zeno Group, Middle Managers at Risk: Companies Overlook the Communications Imperative, shows nearly three-quarters of middle managers (73%) believe it’s important to be able to explain the “why” behind company decisions in order to be a successful manager.

However, when it comes to AI, nearly three-quarters of executives claim their AI approach is strategic—yet fewer than half of employees agree. That disconnect underscores the need for trusted messengers. Managers, valued for their communication and empathy, are best positioned to close the gap. With the right support, they can help employees move from resistance to resilience.

Here are five ways managers can turn anxious employees into AI champions.

1. Communicate the company’s AI Vision

Managers can’t communicate what they don’t understand. Only 22% of employees say their company has communicated a clear AI plan. That leaves many managers guessing or giving up.

When they’re given the trust and tools to lead, managers can be powerful catalysts for change. Sitting at the intersection of strategy and execution, they’re the ones who turn lofty vision into daily action, earn credibility with employees, and translate ambitious AI transformations into something real and usable on the ground.

Give them training, FAQs, and talking points that tie AI implementation back to company goals. Create forums where managers can ask questions. When they’re included early, they become credible messengers. Left in the dark, they add to the skepticism.

2. Acknowledge Change Fatigue and Keep Dialogue Open

While more change is coming, the workforce is exhausted. Even back in 2022, the average employee experienced 10 planned enterprise changes, compared with just two in 2016. Their ability to cope has fallen sharply, from 74% to 43%. Add shifting RTO rules and fears of job loss, and resistance is natural.

Managers can ease resistance by acknowledging the environment we’re in, sharing their own experiences, and inviting honest dialogue. Use team meetings to bust myths, answer questions, and show where AI supports (not replaces) human contributions. Concerns voiced aren’t threats; they’re opportunities to build trust.

3. Answer the “What’s in it for Me?”

If employees can’t see the personal benefit, AI feels like a mandate. Show how AI can save time, automate repetitive tasks, and free up space for creativity and growth.

Managers are closest to the employees and the work, so they are best positioned to share examples of how AI can genuinely improve day-to-day tasks and experiences.

4. Walk the Talk 

Employees won’t embrace tools their managers don’t understand or use. The old “show and tell” approach can spark curiosity and normalize AI use in the workplace.

Encourage managers to experiment with AI in their workflows and share results, including how it enhanced or sped up a project. Then invite employees to do the same. Consider adding an AI spotlight segment at team meetings and recognizing team members who are using AI.

5. Measure Readiness and Seek Feedback

Research shows 75% of employees report low confidence in using AI, and 40% struggle to understand how it applies to their roles.

Managers can help by finding out where their teams feel uncertain. They can gather insights through quick pulse surveys, one-on-ones, or informal conversations, and then advocate for the right training, mentoring, and reskilling programs. Confidence grows when people feel capable, heard, and backed by their leaders.

The Bottom Line

AI isn’t the “future of work.” It’s here now. And its success will hinge less on code and more on conversations—ongoing conversations that managers have with their teams. Don’t sideline managers. Equip them to be the heroes of your organization’s AI adoption journey, turning anxiety into confidence and momentum.