Recent studies reveal that most managers spend over 50% of their time on administrative tasks—from endless reporting to scheduling and emails. That leaves less than 30% of the week for meaningful activities like people development, performance management, or setting strategic direction. According to Harvard Business Review, this imbalance keeps managers from doing the work that truly drives business growth. To solve this, leaders need tools that cut down admin work and free up time for high-value priorities. That’s where AI for managers comes in.
The Cost of Too Much Admin Work
When managers are buried in admin, organizations lose out on innovation, talent growth, and operational agility. A Quantum Workplace report highlights that the most effective leaders dedicate two-thirds of their time to decision-making, motivating people, setting strategy, and managing stakeholders. Yet for many managers, their days are still consumed by inboxes and reporting. This mismatch causes burnout, disengagement, and lost opportunities. The key insight? High-performing managers spend more time on people and strategy, not paperwork.
How AI Helps Managers Reclaim Time
Artificial intelligence isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a proven way to automate repetitive tasks, streamline workflows, and give managers back up to 50% of their time. Imagine replacing manual scheduling, report writing, or meeting prep with AI tools that handle the heavy lifting. This shift allows managers to focus on what matters: coaching their teams, making smarter decisions, and aligning efforts with company strategy. The future of management lies in using AI not just as a productivity hack, but as a time-reallocation tool that strengthens leadership impact.
The Manager OS: 7 AI-Powered Shifts
To truly 2x output, managers should think of AI as their operating system for leadership. This means embedding AI into daily routines to support decision-making, talent management, and strategic planning. Start by automating admin-heavy tasks, then move toward using AI insights for performance coaching, skills development, and predictive problem-solving. The result? Less burnout, more engaged teams, and managers who lead with focus instead of firefighting. As Dr. Mark Hoffman emphasized at Asana’s Work Innovation Summit: overcoming AI barriers isn’t about tech—it’s about rethinking how leaders work.
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