Leadership-competences in the era of artificial intelligence – a structured review

Purpose Artificial intelligence (AI) will transform various processes by utilizing and sharing data and information. This transformation brings new opportunities and challenges to organizations. Effective leadership is essential to handle these changes. However, there is no scientific research on how AI affects the everyday lives of managers. Therefore, this paper aims to identify how AI can affect changes in the skills and personality traits of managers using AI. Design/methodology/approach A structured literature review identified leadership competencies relevant to the AI era. Three scientific databases were included in the search: (I) Scopus, (II) EBSCO Business Source Complete, and (III) Web of Science. A total of 730 articles were identified from the three databases under the topics “Digital Leadership,” “Leadership” AND “Artificial Intelligence,” “Future Leadership,” “Algorithm Leadership,” “AI Leadership,” “Artificial Leadership,” and “Data-driven Leadership.” Findings A total of 24 leadership competencies, including 12 personality traits and 12 skills, were identified from the literature. To adapt effectively to AI, leaders should focus on developing communication skills and forming high-performance teams working cross-functionally and in a symbiosis of humans and machines. Originality/value The article adds knowledge to leadership theories and provides a basis for future management education.