The impact of leadership behaviors on organizational innovative performance and learning in AI-driven Industry 5.0 environments

Purpose Our aim was to elucidate how leaders’ behaviors may impact innovation and organizational learning in a fast-changing, human-centric and sustainability responsive AI-driven Industry 5.0 environment. Design/methodology/approach An unsystematic narrative review of relevant literature was conducted focusing on the influence of leadership behaviors on innovation and learning in Industry 5.0 environment. Findings We found that leadership behaviors that align with Industry 5.0 demands and values must emphasize collaboration, empathy, and continuous learning. The translation of leaders’ actions into desired outcomes requires a psychologically safe work environment, ensuing team cohesion, empowering team members, promoting a learning culture, engendering trust, and vision and goal alignment. Research limitations/implications Being aware of leadership qualities required in Industry 5.0 environment, characterized by machine–human collaboration, sustainable innovations, and continuous learning, enables organizations to focus their recruitment efforts on leaders’ characteristics that align with this environment. It also helps them design suitable leaders’ training and development programs. This study requires further expansion and empirical testing to validate the proposed model. Originality/value There is a plethora of studies on leadership in various contexts; however, there is very little research on the type of leadership that maybe effective in the fast changing and AI-driven Industry 5.0 environment. The findings of this paper shed light on such a leadership.