AI might make your company faster, but at what cost?

"We're moving faster than ever, and teams are more efficient. AI is handling work that used to take hours, and asynchronous communication means decisions don't have to wait for meetings. On paper, it's all an upside. But underneath the speed, something else is happening. Leaders are moving further away from their teams. Not intentionally and not dramatically-just gradually enough that you don't notice it until alignment shifts: decisions that need to be revisited, priorities that aren't as clear as you thought, or challenges surfacing later than they used to."

"The assumption that new tools and smarter systems will keep everyone connected is often not the reality. The more we rely on async updates and AI-generated summaries, the easier it becomes to mistake visibility for connection. And those are not the same thing. Visibility shows you what's getting done. Connection is formed in conversation, context, and the small, human moments where people feel seen, not just managed."

"One of the biggest mistakes I see is treating connection as something you "fit in" when there's time-and there is never time. If it's not built into how your company operates, it won't happen consistently enough to make a difference. That's why I've made regular one-on-one meetings and structured cross-team conversations a nonnegotiable part of how I lead. Beyond my direct reports, I intentionally create regular touchpoints across the organization so leadership doesn't drift too far from the day-to-day reality of the team."

High-growth companies are moving faster through AI automation and asynchronous communication, which can make work and decision-making more efficient. Gradual distance between leaders and teams can emerge as decisions need revisiting, priorities become less clear, and challenges surface later. New tools can create the illusion of connection by increasing visibility, but visibility is not the same as connection. Connection depends on conversation, shared context, and human moments where people feel seen rather than managed. As companies scale, leaders may rely too heavily on reports and systems, so connection must be designed as deliberately as growth. Regular one-on-ones and structured cross-team conversations help prevent leadership drift from day-to-day reality.

Read at Fast Company