AI at Work: Stop Filling the Space - Start Rethinking Roles - Jon Matthews, The Career Innovation Company

April 30, 2026

AI at Work: Stop Filling the Space – Start Rethinking Roles – Jon Matthews, The Career Innovation Company

AI has become a dominant talking point in the world of work, but most of what I see and hear centres around automation, efficiency, and risk. The missing link is what AI means for people – for their growth, their sense of purpose, and how leaders and managers navigate this shift.

I sat down with Jon Matthews from The Career Innovation Company to dig beneath the usual headlines. The honesty he brings to the conversation is refreshing. Rather than pretending change isn’t happening, it’s about building trust by being upfront and making people part of the process. That’s what creates buy-in and a foundation for people to thrive.

AI offers the potential to clear out repetitive tasks, which sounds ideal in theory, but the crux is how that time gets used. Will it simply result in piling on more? Or could it be the chance for managers and leaders to focus on reflection, real conversations, creativity, and the fundamental ‘why’ behind the work?

The role of job crafting stood out for me – not just as a personal tweak to a job description, but as a way for teams to co-create roles that give genuine mastery, meaning, and agency. When people closest to the work can actively reshape it, performance lifts for everyone and you get a culture where employees are engaged and high performing.

But none of it works without the right skills. Most managers haven’t been taught how to have career conversations or lead people through ambiguity. AI is the spark for a much broader shift in what’s needed from leaders – curiosity, honesty, and the ability to support people at different career stages.

What’s clear is that sustainable performance won’t come from more rules or fixed paths, but from guiding principles that help people embrace the unknown. When organisations and managers choose to focus on honest conversations, supporting skill-building and designing roles together, you end up with a workplace where people feel valued, capable, and ready for whatever comes next. That’s what really gets results.

More about Jon

Jon Matthews leads The Career Innovation Company with a focus on helping employers realise the full potential of an adaptable workforce and unlock opportunity for everyone through careers. With three decades’ experience spanning consulting, learning and product innovation, he partners with senior HR leaders to embed scalable solutions that boost engagement, mobility and productivity. Jon has been at the forefront of shaping how careers can transform organisations, convening HR leaders globally to share practice and impact.

Get in touch with Jon: info@careerinnovation.com