AI isn’t just reshaping how we work—it’s demanding a radical reinvention of how we collaborate and make decisions. The future belongs to teams that move with speed and conviction in embracing the full potential of AI.
My research associate Wendy Smith and I have been interviewing dozens of business executives and AI founders in advance of a convocation of 60 such leaders coming together for two days to discuss how leadership and collaboration needs to change in the next three years to fully leverage all the disruptive opportunity that is upon us.
We believe that the real competitive edge will go to the most proactive, courageous and inclusive leaders hosting conversations that challenge the status quo, harness diverse perspectives, and ignite breakthrough thinking at scale. This is our going-in thinking and we will be publishing much more coming out of this upcoming conversation.
At Ferrazzi Greenlight, our research reveals a defining truth: Only the top 15% of teams have cracked the code on next-gen collaboration. They know that fast doesn’t mean reckless, and inclusive doesn’t mean slow. Instead, they leverage courageous and inclusive dialogue to fuel innovation, uncover hidden risks and accelerate results.
In a world moving at AI speed, the winners won’t be the ones who simply adopt technology—they’ll be the ones who master the teamship dynamics that crack the code of how AI-powered work and decisions can be breakthrough and unstoppable.
Last year, executives from the Radical Innovators Collaborative (RIC) gathered to explore AI’s most transformative workplace applications. A standout example came from Kearney and Distyl, showcasing AI-driven supply chain re-engineering. Their success stemmed not from isolated efforts but from deeply co-elevating partnerships—integrating sales, procurement, manufacturing, IT, and change management.
Suketu Gandhi, a partner at Kearney, shared: “Our data shows that companies connecting supply chain, innovative teams, product groups, and suppliers through AI tools see measurable gains. When teams share insights through these systems, decision time drops from days to minutes. This isn’t about technology alone, but about breaking down barriers between functions that traditionally operate in isolation.”
Arjun Prakash, CEO of Distyl, added: “Only a handful of companies have turned AI into a real competitive advantage. Their secret? They don’t just automate—they use AI to fundamentally reimagine work and business models. The only way to realize this is to fundamentally make every single employee part of the cultural change. When this happens, AI becomes more than a technology—it becomes a better, more competitive way for people to work.”
AI-driven collaboration is redefining how organizations operate, ushering in a shift from traditional leadership to teamship—a concept championed by the book “Never Lead Alone: 10 Shifts from leadership to Teamship.” Teamship thrives on co-elevation, where teammates uplift, challenge, and hold one another accountable to reach their highest potential. At its core, this approach prioritizes inclusivity, ensuring that the best ideas—not just the loudest voices—shape outcomes.
Now, as AI reshapes industries at an unprecedented pace, the organizations that embed candor, respect, and inclusion into their culture won’t just keep up—they will lead. A Harvard Business Review article highlights that inclusive organizations are up to 50% more likely to make better decisions, 73% more likely to obtain innovation revenue, and 70% more likely to capture new markets, emphasizing the value of diversity and open dialogue in decision-making processes. In this new era, success won’t be defined by who adopts AI the fastest, but by who builds the boldest, most adaptive teams capable of turning disruption into advantage.
Critically, teams are no longer bound by organizational charts but formed around the skills and expertise needed for the task at hand. True teams integrate diverse perspectives across functions and levels, aligning around a shared purpose rather than rigid structures. This adaptability fuels the competitive advantage of the modern workplace, driven by two key forces:
AI and digital tools are revolutionizing collaboration, making it faster, more dynamic, and less constrained by time zones and meetings. Our research advocates for asynchronous, continuous teamwork, where real-time decision-making is replaced by seamless, ongoing engagement. This shift accelerates innovation, enhances intentional communication, and ensures diverse perspectives contribute meaningfully without bottlenecks.
This isn’t just about working better; it’s about working together more powerfully. These teams align deeply with their mission, break through traditional barriers, and ignite bolder, more innovative ideas. Collaboration tools, particularly those with AI enablement, don’t just enhance decision-making; they supercharge ideation and prototyping, making the process faster, more dynamic, and deeply impactful. The result? Accelerated transformation, stronger connections, and a resilient culture where diverse perspectives drive progress rather than divide.
A team’s commitment to co-elevation fosters radical candor, peer accountability, and inclusive discourse. It transforms honest feedback into a unifying force, creating a psychologically safe culture where innovation flourishes. By prioritizing excellence and trust, co-elevating teams don’t just collaborate—they push boundaries, strengthen relationships, and drive breakthrough results.
AI can accelerate this dynamic by removing barriers to transparency and alignment. Real-time analytics provide teams with data-driven insights, making feedback more objective and actionable. AI-powered collaboration tools ensure that every voice is heard, surfacing diverse perspectives that might otherwise be overlooked. By facilitating continuous learning, adaptive decision-making, and seamless knowledge sharing, AI actually strengthens trust through transparency and drives greater peer-to-peer accountability—core pillars of co-elevation.
Co-elevating teams don’t just collaborate; they evolve together, using AI to amplify their collective intelligence, enhance psychological safety, and unlock new levels of performance.
The impact is clear: Teams that embrace contracts of co-elevation see 79% more candor, 46% stronger collaboration, and 44% higher accountability. With 72% of employees avoiding conflict, missed opportunities cost organizations dearly—but teams leveraging the simplest collaboration tools can more easily foster courageous communication and experience a 79% boost in transparency and effectiveness.
The future of work isn’t just about AI making us faster—it’s about AI making us bolder, smarter, and more connected than ever before. AI is already a fusion of countless perspectives, synthesizing vast knowledge to inform decisions. AI isn’t just a tool—it’s a dynamic partner, fusing countless perspectives and synthesizing vast knowledge to fuel smarter, more inclusive decision-making. But as organizations embrace AI, they must do so with awareness and intentionality.
To effectively harness AI's potential, organizations must embed it in a culture of psychological safety, open debate, and relentless curiosity. Practical steps include:
By implementing these strategies, organizations can use AI as a catalyst for deeper collaboration, stronger decision-making, and truly inclusive innovation.
The real breakthroughs won’t come from passively accepting AI’s conclusions. They will come from challenging its assumptions, refining its insights, and pushing beyond historical consensus to create something truly groundbreaking. The most advanced AI still needs the boldness of human curiosity, the richness of lived experience, and the audacity to question the status quo.
While AI offers immense potential, it also presents risks that, if ignored, could undermine innovation, inclusivity, and critical thinking. Thus, as AI weaves deeper into business operations, organizations must remain vigilant:
The goal isn’t blind adoption but thoughtful integration, ensuring that AI enhances decision-making rather than constraining it. Organizations that get this right will build more inclusive, innovative, and adaptive teams, unlocking the true power of AI.
The Future: Human Collaboration + AI = Breakthrough Innovation
The organizations that prioritize getting this right—blending AI’s vast intelligence with human audacity and purpose—won’t just keep up with the future. They will define it. As Francesca Campalani, EVP, Randstad, highlights: “This fusion isn’t just about keeping pace; it’s about defining what comes next. The organizations embracing the 'Think Bold, Act Fast & Breakthrough’ manifesto will become magnets for diverse skills and talent, build cultures of creativity, and consistently out-innovate competitors who view AI merely as a shortcut rather than a powerful partner.”
The real question is: Will your organization seize the future and redefine collaboration in the AI era—or be left scrambling to keep up?