Staying Relevant in the Age of AI: Leading Yourself Through Change

By Liina Fadaee, Executive Coach | Founder Consult For Growth

The world of work is changing faster than ever. I hear it in the questions clients bring to coaching:

“My skills are becoming obsolete. AI can do them. Where do I add value now?”

“My industry is changing. How do I pivot? How do I even start?”

“I didn’t see this coming. I feel lost. I don’t know how to differentiate myself anymore.”

These are not small worries. They are the very real, human questions that sit at the heart of modern leadership.

The Discomfort Is Real

It can feel deeply unsettling to realise that the skills you’ve built over years may not carry you forward. Even those who love learning describe the pressure of needing to constantly adapt.

Research from the World Economic Forum puts it clearly:

around 40% of skills in the workforce are expected to change by 2030.

But no number can really describe what that feels like.

The uncertainty.

The fear of being left behind.

The sense of urgency to “catch up” while not knowing where to begin.

This isn’t a personal failing. It’s an honest reaction to a world in flux.

This Is the Work of Modern Leadership

Staying relevant isn’t just about learning new tools. It’s about learning to lead ourselves through change.

That means recognising what is shifting in our industry, our roles, and our value. It means asking uncomfortable questions, even when there are no easy answers. It means cultivating a mindset that balances curiosity with courage.

My Own Practice

I don’t claim immunity to this discomfort. I feel it too. I also wrestle with the pace of change, the arrival of new technologies, and the question of how to ensure what I offer remains truly valuable.

Here’s what I choose to do, imperfectly but intentionally:

• I try new technologies myself. I explore, test, learn what’s useful, and where human connection still matters most.

  
  

• I stay close to experts, reading widely and listening carefully.

  
  

• I reflect on what I offer that AI cannot: trust, deep listening, ethical space, powerful questions that unlock self-awareness.

  
  

• I invest in my own development. I’m pursuing my next ICF credential, carefully choosing the right path to deepen my practice.

  
  

• I’m also researching master’s degree options to advance my understanding of leadership, adult learning, or organisational psychology.

  
  

• And I actively seek out collaboration—because I believe learning is best done together, in conversation with other practitioners who see the world differently.

These are the ways I try to walk the same path I ask my clients to consider.

The Human Edge

AI is here to stay. It will automate routine tasks, assist with analysis, and support decision-making.

But there are things it cannot replace:

• Building genuine trust.

• Navigating ethical grey areas with judgement.

• Leading people through uncertainty.

• Empathising in a deeply human way.

• Inspiring others with shared meaning.

Our human edge isn’t about resisting technology. It’s about complementing it, leaning into the work only humans can truly do.

A Few Questions to Sit With

If you’re feeling this discomfort yourself, you’re not alone.

Here are a few questions I often invite clients to consider:

What parts of your role might technology change, and what will that free you to focus on instead?

What value do you add that no AI can replicate?

Where do you want to deepen your expertise or leadership?

How might you stay curious, even when it feels safer to avoid the topic?

Who can you learn from? Who can you learn with?

How do you want to lead yourself through this change?

The Role of Coaching

This is precisely where coaching holds its power.

Not by offering easy answers. Not by fixing the discomfort

But by creating space to sit with these questions. To name the fear. To find clarity. To design next steps with intention.

It is about moving from overwhelm to ownership.

Final Thoughts

The future of work isn’t about replacing humans with machines. It’s about changing what humans do best.

The discomfort is real.

But so is the possibility.

If you’re ready to move beyond fear and begin shaping your own path through this change, perhaps it’s time for that conversation.

Staying relevant isn’t about avoiding change, it’s about leading yourself through it.

If you'd like to explore this work together, you're welcome to connect.