In a recent HRTechChat podcast conversation with Jeff Smith, PhD, COO of AI-powered performance management platform 15Five, a consistent theme emerged: the future of performance management and manager enablement will not be driven by more training, frameworks, or one-time interventions. It will be driven by system design that reinforces behavior continuously, in the flow of work.
As HR teams face unprecedented pressure, from AI disruption and capacity constraints to escalating expectations placed on managers, traditional approaches to performance and leadership development are no longer sufficient. What organizations need now are mechanisms that turn expectations into daily practice, supported by technology that helps provide real-time feedback and augments human judgment rather than replacing it.
Key Insights from the Conversation
1. HR Is at the Center of a Convergence of Forces
HR leaders are navigating:
- expanding scope and accountability
- rising employee expectations for personalization and care
- accelerating AI adoption across the enterprise
As Jeff noted, HR sits at the intersection of the most important—and most complex—part of the business: people. This position is becoming more demanding, not less, as AI introduces new governance, security, and ethical considerations that often default back to HR ownership.
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