Artificial intelligence continues to improve at execution, but the real challenge lies in the human coordination behind complex work. That’s where adaptive leadership proves essential — knowing how to guide people and adjust to changing circumstances rather than following a fixed plan.

Enterprises can look to an orchestra as a clear example of operational complexity. A conductor makes real-time adjustments — much like a manager who adapts on the fly. That kind of careful, anticipatory coordination with a team is essential for success, according to Sir Simon Rattle (pictured), chief conductor of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra.

Sir Simon Rattle talks with theCUBE about how conducting maps to adaptive leadership in the AI era.

“I’m in a particularly strange profession because there’s a hundred people there who are unbelievably highly trained, extremely knowledgeable [and have] big temperaments,” Rattle said. “One of the things I learned very early on is you better get all their input. It’s [not] you saying, ‘Oh, this is what I want because this is only one person’s vision.’ Of course you guide it in that way, but it’s quite easy to crush that creativity. And I can tell you: You don’t want to face an angry orchestra.”

Rattle spoke with theCUBE’s Savannah Peterson and Rob Strechay at Celosphere 25, during an exclusive broadcast on theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s livestreaming studio. They discussed how the act of conducting reflects adaptive leadership in the AI era — and why human judgment remains vital for guiding complex teams. (* Disclosure below.)

Adaptive leadership and staying a beat ahead in the AI era

As enterprises adopt AI at scale, teams are being pushed to move faster than ever. Leadership roles have expanded significantly, and while human creativity remains central to most operations, no industry — not even music — is entirely immune to disruption, according to Rattle.

“I do think that our part of this profession, the way we do it, is one of the things that will be most difficult for AI to replicate,” he said. “On the other hand … what we all thought 10 years ago as a possibility now seems so incredibly primitive.”

Leaders, especially, must be ready for change. AI raises the tempo so much that they must specifically practice adaptive leadership — balancing being versatile and anticipatory. This style echoes how the conductor works a beat ahead so the ensemble can land together, Rattle explained.

“In a way, we are breathing in, but it’s the orchestra who breathes out,” he said. “We are doing everything ahead of time.”

Of course, authority only becomes real when people decide to play. In music and in companies, intent only turns into music if the room works with you, according to Rattle. Reflecting on an experience as a child that shaped his artistry, he remembered an orchestra walking out on a famous Welsh conductor — a moment that made the stakes of leadership unmistakable.

“I thought ‘Wow, of course, without them, he’s nothing,’” he said. “He can breathe in all he likes, but he can’t breathe out.”

Here’s the complete video interview, part of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE’s coverage of Celosphere 25:

(* Disclosure: TheCUBE is a paid media partner for Celosphere 25. Neither Celonis SE, the sponsor of theCUBE’s event coverage, nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Photo: SiliconANGLE