Keeping our AI on the Prize

How leaders, HR, and teams can thrive with AI

AI is now a welcome team member, with a spot in the org chart and the corner office. Their onboarding was quick and swift - “AI, meet the team. Team, meet AI”. In a short time, this new team member showed that they could go far beyond transcribing meetings and summarizing key points. They helped speed up the first draft of materials, conducted basic analysis, and even started coaching team members through interpersonal challenges too.

The proficiency of this new digital team member has many teams and companies wondering how this changes the complement human skills and intellect. Finding that perfect balance will the key to keeping our "AI on the prize" which will be less about finding ways to replace but rather amplify humans.

Here are some tips for leaders and teams to keep their AI on the prize and amplify humans.

Don't let AI be an echo chamber

Using AI effectively will come from using it with eyes wide open and recognizing it’s shortcomings when it comes to decision making. Currently, AI tools are designed to please. Looking for validation, or a pat on the back for your amazing new idea? Common generative AI tools are here to be your cheer squad, blindly telling you want you want to hear. You may receive a balance of pros and cons, but generally you’re walking into a room full of your best friends unwilling or unable to see any flaws in your argument.

Use critical thinking to craft questions and challenge thinking

The AI advantage will come from humans using critical thinking to ask questions that challenge thinking and explore diverse viewpoints. Use AI's tendency to support every argument to explore every argument and uncover unique ideas at the intersections where ideas collide and innovation happens. Amplify human critical thinking by letting AI channel thinking but not take the driver's seat.

Focus less on being the "know-it-all" and double down on flawless execution

Let AI do what AI does best which is package, re-package, and package again, information. The people of the workplace are still what makes awesome stuff happen. It's people that can "read the room", know the culture of your organization, and engage your team day-to-day, in-person, face-to-face. As leaders, this means being in tune with what the workplace is feeling, so that you can time changes and messaging effectively. For team members, this means, being there with your team to launch, initiate, and engage. For everyone, this means the details that AI can't capture, are what your teams and customers will notice and value. Let AI build the checklist, but as the leader, HR professional, team member, how you execute will be your differentiator.

In our view, the AI advantage is largely about recognizing and being realistic about where AI fits in your team, what role will it play, and what role will we allow it to play. AI is amazing, we love it, though we respectfully didn't use it to write this article. We believe in the power of innovative and creative thinking which AI can certainly support, but true uniqueness will come from thoughts not yet written, which AI can't re-package. Keeping our “AI on the prize”, will be about amplifying the humans with the assistance of AI.