In an AI-first firm safe roles either own context, or power, or both. All others are at risk.
We’re building a new consultancy from scratch, and my experience is very different from the businesses we’ve built before.
For example, you probably know which people in your firm do the actual work – the ones closest to the frontline.
In an information business, these people are the ones that own context – they know the client’s situation and what they need.
This used to be the preserve of less-experienced staff. That’s changing. Senior people are rolling their sleeves up and getting the work done because AI tools help them leverage their knowledge and dramatically reduce bureaucracy.
Leading from the back are people who are in charge of the business. They have power, either through ownership or because of the particular roles they hold.
They’re also relatively safe, because they make the decisions.
It’s the roles in the midde that will start to disapper, the ones that don’t own context and that don’t have power. The ones that can’t clearly articulate the strategic value they add.
A boutique firm hits the sweet spot. Small enough so the owners do the work. They own both power and context.
And the only thing that they now sell is value. Not time.
Handcrafted insight 