In a recent newsletter, top motivational speaker and bestselling author Rocky Romanella addressed the pervasive fear that artificial intelligence will replace human workers, arguing that the true danger lies in people believing they no longer matter. Romanella, founder and CEO of 3SIXTY Management Services, LLC, contends that while AI can process information and optimize tasks at unprecedented speed, it cannot inspire belief, build trust, or create the emotional connections that drive human action. 'AI is the bus to the future — but people must drive the bus,' he wrote, emphasizing that leaders must step up to remind employees of their intrinsic value.
Romanella draws on his extensive career, including nearly 40 years at UPS, to illustrate his point. He recounts being tasked with integrating the Mailboxes Etc. acquisition into UPS, a role for which he lacked traditional qualifications. The CEO and COO chose him not based on data but on their belief in his commitment—what Romanella calls 'AIAI: Am I All In?' This experience, he says, taught him that leaders can see potential in people before they see it in themselves.
The newsletter, available at 3sixtymanagementservices.com, contrasts AI's capabilities with human leadership. Romanella cites the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team's 'Miracle on Ice' as proof: AI could analyze strategies and calculate odds, but it could not build the belief that coach Herb Brooks instilled in his players. 'That moment wasn't about data. It was about heart. It was about leadership,' Romanella writes.
Romanella's insights extend beyond his newsletter. He hosts The Leadership Library Podcast, now in its ninth season, and has contributed to Forbes Business Council, with articles available at 3sixtymanagementservices.com/forbes-business-council/. His book, 'Tighten The Lug Nuts: The Principles Of Balanced Leadership,' recently achieved number one bestseller status in Business Management and Business Leadership.
Romanella warns that the narrative that 'AI will replace people' discourages the next generation and diminishes the dignity of hardworking individuals. He calls on leaders to restore dignity to the conversation, asserting that technology may change the work, but leadership must still lift the people. 'The leaders who understand this — who know how to elevate people while leveraging technology — will define the next era of business,' he concludes.
