Managing Teams in an AI-Enabled Enterprise
Experts agree that artificial intelligence (AI) will change the workplace forever, but there’s little consensus on how employees will cope with this transformation. Research suggests only 30% of C-suite leaders feel confident in their change capabilities, and even fewer (25%) believe their teams are ready to embrace change.
Develop Staff Resiliency
LinkedIn’s chief product officer Tomer Cohen urged managers to ensure their staff can cope with the rapid pace of AI-enabled transformation.
"Ultimately, you must be able to learn fast enough to be OK with an ever-changing landscape, realizing that whatever best practices you learn, they’re only true for that moment in time," he said.
Cohen told ZDNET that managers must help their staff build resiliency to deal with almost constant change.
"At every given moment, you might need to unlearn and relearn again," he said. "If you have that capability, I think you’ll be ahead of the group in terms of success."
Embrace the Changes
Bev White, CEO at recruiter Nash Squared, said AI needs to become part of everybody’s toolkit — and that’s not a reality to fear.
"Encourage people in your team to see it as a potentially game-changing resource for them to explore and experiment with," she said. "Foster an environment where people in your team share how they’re getting on and what they’re learning so that the team is co-coaching each other."
White told ZDNET that managing people successfully in the AI-enabled workplace is a bit like dealing with ready-to-assemble furniture.
"If you build it yourself, you’re likely to feel satisfied when it’s done and like the piece much more than if it was just presented ready-assembled," she said.
Show the Benefits
Tobias Sammereyer, team lead for performance engineering at furniture retailer XXXLutz, suggested managers must educate their staff about the benefits of the AI wave crashing into the enterprise.
"Educate them. Try to get them up and running. Start a community. Let them know, ‘Hey guys, how are you using it, what’s the benefit?’ And try to accelerate everything they do," he said.
Make People Comfortable
Adobe CIO Cindy Stoddard said managing teams successfully in the age of AI is about dealing with the people change management process.
"You must get people comfortable. And you must allow them to understand the topic. So, you must bring them in and educate them in whatever way works for their style, because everybody learns differently," she said.
Measure Your Successes
Jeff Palmiero, Raymond James’s technical vice president, said managers should only use AI if they prove it helps staff rather than replace them.
"Get some metrics to show how the technology is helping to boost the productivity of your teams," he said.
Conclusion
As AI transforms the workplace, managers must adapt to new challenges. Developing staff resiliency, embracing the changes, showing the benefits, making people comfortable, and measuring successes are all crucial strategies for managing teams effectively in an AI-enabled enterprise.
FAQs
Q: How can managers develop staff resiliency in an AI-enabled workplace?
A: Managers can develop staff resiliency by helping them build the ability to learn fast, unlearn, and relearn again.
Q: What are some benefits of embracing AI in the workplace?
A: Embracing AI can lead to increased productivity, efficiency, and innovation.
Q: How can managers show the benefits of AI to their staff?
A: Managers can show the benefits of AI by educating their staff, providing hands-on training, and sharing success stories.
Q: What is the key to making people comfortable with AI in the workplace?
A: The key to making people comfortable with AI is to educate them, provide training, and show them the benefits of the technology.
Q: How can managers measure the successes of AI in the workplace?
A: Managers can measure the successes of AI by tracking metrics such as productivity, efficiency, and innovation.
