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Leadership Learning with Dr Rozana™
© Copyright Dr Rozana Huq. 3 June 2026
Leadership Skills
A Positive Aspect of AI.
Critical Call For Human-Centric Leadership Skills.
It is interesting to notice that as AI is growing and entering industries, academic and working life, more demand is being placed on leaders to change from a ‘command and control’ leadership to a more ‘human-centric’ one, giving team members freedom and flexibility to make decisions, and do their work. I view it as a positive aspect of AI. However, not all leaders are happy with this, as they find it difficult to adapt to change and suddenly develop human-centric skills.
The pivoting nature of leadership means that a leader must adapt to changing environments, reshape strategies, and continuously be aware of market conditions and rapid changes.
These can put heavy pressure on leaders, resulting in stress, anxiety, and job burnout.
Being a senior leader in a community organisation has taught me a great deal about human-centric leadership. Dealing with over twenty communities from different backgrounds, ‘humans’ were the centre of my work. But, it was different then, I didn’t even come across the word human-centric. However, my philosophy, together with my work ethic, and everything we did in the community, were always centred around people.
My added value - I understood the multi-cultural ethos, the difficulties and problems, and was able to empathise with people; they were our clients.
Empathy and vulnerability are not often recognised as being important skills for leaders. You are a senior leader, and so you have to get on with the job.
It’s one of the positive aspects of AI, forcing leaders to develop the human side of leadership skills.
For many leaders, it can be overwhelming. One leader said to me, ‘It is becoming increasingly stressful to cope with the digital transformation and find the balance to manage people.’ When I said to him, ‘Most people can manage themselves. Why don’t you take some time out and take care of yourself, and learn how to manage your stress.’
He looked at me in astonishment as if I had said something impossible.
He was finding it difficult even to listen properly to what I was saying, and not letting me finish my sentences.
But, this persuaded him to listen to me when I said, ‘You are paying me to help you, and I will feel terrible if I take the money and not be able to help. So, please say yes or no to these short questions. You don’t need to talk, sit back, relax, and give me honest answers, yes or no, okay?’ He agreed.
Time to get the bullet points out, no point in talking in long sentences. His stress was turning into impatience. I realised his pain points and questioned him:
Do you feel:
➡️ Stressed?
➡️ Burnout?
➡️ Emotionally drained?
➡️ Tired of meetings?
➡️ You are not adding value?
➡️ Under-appreciated?
➡️ Challenged?
Finally: Last, but not least:
➡️ Do you feel vulnerable?
OMG there I said it – to a grown-up man about feeling vulnerable!
I will be writing more about leadership vulnerability in a few days.
To all the above questions, he nodded, sometimes yeah, and at times a grunt that meant yes.
Wisdom gave in, and he agreed…the way he was leading wasn’t feasible, besides, it was leading nowhere, neither himself nor his team.
Out of the denial into the recovery zone.
That was the challenge for me in getting him to acknowledge his stress and some of the emotions surrounding it.
Finally, out of the denial into the recovery zone.
My book ‘Gratitude and Healing’ is written with recovery in mind. How to get people to heal and come out of their stress zones and use poetry as a tool to talk about emotions and vulnerability, and move forward with small steps in the journaling pages.
This combination also helps other professionals, managers, coaches, and HR Leaders dealing with stress and burnout.
If you haven’t awakened to this, now is the time to wake up.
Here is a reminder to one of my well-used quotes from my book.
“You cannot take action if you are not aware
Awareness creates compassion and
Compassion leads the way for
Gratitude and Appreciation.”
If you are interested in quotes, you can find 25 quotes in my book.
‘Gratitude & Healing For Leaders. A Collection of Poems for Reflection, Mindfulness and Inner Strength.’
My human-centric leadership approach is built around:
➡️ Empathy
➡️ Empowerment
➡️ Collaboration and
➡️ Trust
My work focuses on helping leaders create
➡️ Healthier, more
➡️ Inclusive workplace cultures
where people feel
➡️ Empowered,
➡️ Valued and
➡️ Motivated
Thank you, Professor Bruce Lloyd, for your honest feedback about my book, ‘Gratitude and Healing for Leaders’ – for Reflection, Mindfulness and Inner Strength.
“In all today's discussions on purpose and meaning, Gratitude is such a powerful, under-recognised and under- appreciated concept.
It is closely linked with the feeling of being appreciated. Together they can make so much positive difference to our lives.
The insights and feelings conveyed by this impressive collection of poems by Dr Rozana Huq can inspire us all in these challenging times.”
Professor Bruce Lloyd
Emeritus Professor, London South Bank University.
To learn more:
➡️ Get the book.
https://www.rhmleadership.com/books-by-dr-rozana-huq
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Leadership Learning with Dr Rozana™ is written by
Dr Rozana Huq
Founder and Director
RHM LEADERSHIP
➡️ Empower ➡️ Inspire ➡️ Lead
www.rhmleadership.com