The Best Leaders Aren't More Efficient, They're More Human with Caroline Webb

The obvious response to AI eating more of the workday is to get more efficient — learn the tools, move faster, automate what you can. Caroline Webb, who's spent twenty-five years coaching leaders using cognitive and behavioral science, argues something closer to the opposite: the tasks AI still can't touch are the ones that actually decide whether you're a good leader, and most of us have never been taught to get better at them on purpose. Specificity over generality, humanity of technicality is what makes her five-step method for how to give feedback so effective. Not "good job." Not "be more proactive." A named observation, a named impact, and an invitation to hear the other side before you coach. It's the difference between feedback people shrug off and feedback people actually use. Deliberate wisdom, intrinsic inspiration, reasoned resilience — the three principles her new book is built around — are really one argument in three parts: as the machines get faster, the leaders who matter most will be the ones who get more deliberately human. Find out more about Caroline at https://carolinewebb.co // NEWSLETTER Want to build your best team ever? Join 25,000+ leaders who receive these insights in my free newsletter: https://davidburkus.com/podcast // LEADERSHIP LESSONS -The best leaders aren't getting faster in the AI era — they're getting more human, doubling down on judgment, empathy, and trust. -Team complaining isn't an attitude problem — it's a sign the leader hasn't redirected attention to what's controllable. -Feedback isn't about telling people what to fix. It's about being specific enough that they can act on it. -Motivation isn't built with bonuses — it's built with competence and connection. -Resilience isn't pushing through — it's making the situation feel manageable and meaningful again. // SPEAKING Like what you heard? Learn more or find out how to bring me to your company or event: https://davidburkus.com/keynote-speaker/ // ABOUT DAVID One of the world’s leading business thinkers, David’s forward-thinking ideas and bestselling books are changing how companies approach leadership, teamwork, and collaboration. An organizational psychologist and professor at Columbia University, Dr. David Burkus is the bestselling author of five books about business and leadership. His books have won multiple awards and have been translated into dozens of languages. Since 2017, David has been ranked multiple times as one of the world’s top business thought leaders. His insights on leadership and teamwork have been featured in the Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, CNN, the BBC, NPR, and CBS Mornings. David now works with leaders from organizations across all industries, including PepsiCo, Fidelity, Adobe, and NASA. David’s keynotes aren’t just entertaining and enlightening—they’re evidence-based and immensely practical, offering leaders at all levels a set of actionable takeaways they can implement immediately. //CONNECT LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidburkus/ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/davidburkus Facebook: http://www.FB.com/DrDavidBurkus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DavidBurkus