As organizations pour billions into AI technology, a critical question emerges: who will bridge the gap between technological investment and tangible workforce productivity? According to a new special report from The Josh Bersin Company, the world's most trusted HR advisory firm, the answer lies in the emergence of a "supermanager." This new research, titled People Management in the Age of AI: The Rise of the Supermanager, argues that sustained success requires managers who can lead with AI to engage teams, inspire creativity, and foster high-performing, adaptable organizations.
A new Josh Bersin Company report introduces the concept of the AI-era "supermanager."
Supermanagers use AI to listen, support, and engage their teams effectively.
They inspire creativity and AI-driven job redesign, fostering a culture of experimentation.
The report is a follow-up to the earlier "Rise of the Superworker" analysis.
It includes case studies from Microsoft, LIXIL, and other leading organizations.
The Josh Bersin Company is launching a readiness tool and AI agent to help develop these leaders.
With massive investments flowing into AI infrastructure, the report highlights a growing concern about the slow translation of this spending into bottom-line productivity gains. Simultaneously, employee anxiety about job displacement is rising. Managers, as the first line of leadership, are identified as the critical link to close this gap. They are no longer just supervisors but are now essential for driving AI adoption, mitigating workforce uncertainty, and unlocking the technology's full potential within their teams.
The research clarifies that a supermanager is defined not merely by their use of technology, but by how they lead with it. These managers are grounded in empathy and guided by data, using AI to empower their teams rather than just direct them. They actively foster cultures of AI experimentation, celebrating both successes and valuable failures to normalize learning and continuous improvement. Their focus is on elevating decision-making, boosting engagement, and creating the space for innovation and individualized skills development.
"AI transformation is a process of business reinvention. It requires more than technology implementation; people are at the core," said Julia Bersin, Associate Director, Research at The Josh Bersin Company. "Managers, as the first line of leadership, are a critical driver of success—not only in driving AI adoption but in creating adaptive, resilient teams. Supermanagers are those who inspire, encourage, and support their teams—combining human-centered leadership with AI excellence."
To support this organizational shift, The Josh Bersin Company is launching a suite of practical resources. This includes a Supermanager Readiness Tool for corporate members to assess their current state, and Galileo for Managers, a dedicated AI agent that acts as a mentor to help leaders navigate complex challenges and apply supermanager principles in real-time. The company is also releasing a new training course, "The Rise of the Supermanager: The AI Transformation Architect," available through its Galileo Learn platform.
"The pace of AI technology is accelerating yet organizations are operating with job roles, structures, and management processes never designed for this speed of automation," said Josh Bersin, co-founder and CEO of The Josh Bersin Company. "The solution comes down to managers. Our new concept of Supermanager describes a class of business leaders who use AI to not just supervise work, but to redesign work by helping teams adapt, experiment, and learn new skills."
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