Closing the Gap Between AI Adoption and Human-Centric HR

The report, titled The Power of Human-Centricity and released at the McLean Signature 2026 conference, argues that HR leaders must shift from viewing human-centricity as an abstract value to treating it as an operational discipline. Kelly Berte, a lead researcher at the firm, warns that technology decisions made solely for speed often ignore the employee experience, creating long-term retention and performance challenges.

McLean & Company’s research suggests that human-centricity serves as a strategic lens for better decision-making. Data from their 2025 trends report indicates that companies with leaders proficient in these competencies are 2.2 times more likely to hit strategic objectives. To bridge the current implementation gap, the firm offers a roadmap focusing on three pillars: technology adoption, people-focused outcomes like psychological safety, and sustained organizational performance.