GoKawiilSlingshot data shows AI mandates from C-suite failing to reach middle management
A Digital Work Trends Report from Slingshot finds that while 86% of C-suite executives say AI use is mandatory at their companies, only 49% of middle managers are actually reinforcing that expectation with their teams. An Infragistics executive argues the disconnect stems from leadership style, not technology, since employees need coaching and modeling rather than top-down mandates to adopt new tools.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The gap illustrates a common failure point in corporate technology rollouts: announcing a tool is far easier than getting people to actually change how they work. Companies investing heavily in AI platforms may see disappointing returns if middle managers aren't equipped or incentivized to drive adoption on the ground.
- 86% of executives mandate AI use, but only 49% of managers reinforce it
- The adoption gap is framed as a leadership issue, not a technology issue
- Coaching and modeling behavior are proposed as more effective than mandates
Ethan Mollick "Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI — If the article's point is that AI adoption is a leadership challenge, this book is a great hands-on guide for executives and managers who need to model the behavior rather than just mandate it. Mollick focuses on practical ways to work alongside AI tools, making it easy to share a common language with your team.
See Ethan Mollick "Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: entrepreneur.com — Dean Guida, 2026-09-13
Published there as: “Your AI Strategy Is Only as Strong as Your Leadership — 3 Ways to Turn Executive Vision Into Employee Adoption”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.