What do you do if automation threatens your role as an internal communicator?

Don't fear automation! It frees you from routine tasks, opening doors for strategic thinking and innovation. Redefine your role: become the bridge between humans and tech! Learn new tools and leverage them to boost productivity and quality. You become a vital intermediary, ensuring human needs are met in this tech-driven world. Embrace change, master new skills – and become a leader in this new era. Drive innovation, improve processes, and keep the human touch front and center through impactful communication. Automation isn't a threat; it's your chance to become indispensable. Proactively learn, adapt, and continuously improve – these are the keys to thriving in the future of work

I’m a graduated journalist in a country we’re no degree is required to be a journalist. When I started grad school, top tier media were failing apart and several pessimists were saying it was the end of printed media. I remember looking at my classmates and seeing this group of talented young people ready to change the game, adapt to the new reality of our profession and embrace change. We all found our ways, even if it was not in a traditional “printed media” journalism path.

When it comes to AI, I like to say, “let’s build cyborgs not robots!” Even though the sudden rise in AI is a little scary, it beings tremendous opportunity. The first step to eliminating that fear is to build your own firsthand experience by engaging with some of the tools that have been developed. That is the key, these are incredibly powerful tools that, once you know how to use, will enable you to make better use of your time and energy.

TBH, if automation threatens your role as an internal communicator, focus on developing skills in areas where human input is indispensable, such as strategic thinking, creativity, relationship building, and emotional intelligence. Additionally, consider repositioning yourself as a specialist in managing and optimizing communication automation tools.

Are you controlling technology or getting controlled by it? Understanding the potential of technology empowers individuals to utilize it effectively, freeing up time for creativity and innovation in internal communication. To navigate the evolving landscape, internal communicators must cultivate familiarity with tools, draw on experience, employ critical thinking, and embrace creativity. By leveraging technology strategically and adapting to changing dynamics, communicators can enhance their impact and relevance within organizations.

Be proactive, not reactive. Technology outpaces people, when it comes to finding new ways to address current and future issues. People will always be necessary, to get insights automated systems cannot. But, the best way to ensure you will always stay relevant within your area of practice is always be in tune with the latest technologies, including software, which might be in use now only in testing phase. Try to get into groups using cutting-edge technologies, learn about the latest software. And, if you feel you are being left behind, upskill yourself with a bootcamp or online course. Staying up-to-date is an everyday effort, which pays back continuously.

If automation threatens your role as an internal communicator, focus on adapting and upskilling to remain relevant. Explore automation tools and technologies to enhance your efficiency and effectiveness in communication tasks. Invest in learning new skills such as data analysis, content creation, or digital marketing to complement automation efforts. Additionally, proactively seek opportunities to take on higher-value strategic tasks that require human creativity and critical thinking. Finally, stay informed about industry trends and advancements to anticipate changes and position yourself as a valuable asset in the evolving landscape of internal communication.

Creativity: While AI can generate content and perform repetitive tasks, creativity remains a uniquely human trait. Cultivating your creative skills can help you devise innovative solutions, develop engaging content, and adapt to changing circumstances. Continuous Learning: In a world where technology evolves rapidly, the ability to learn new skills and adapt to new tools is essential for staying relevant. Cultivate a growth mindset and embrace lifelong learning to keep pace with technological advancements and career opportunities.

Upskilling Yourself to Counter Automation Threats in Internal Communication: 1. Embrace continuous learning and stay updated on industry trends. 2. Develop valuable skills that are difficult to automate, such as adaptability and effective communication. 3. Seek professional development opportunities to acquire new skills. 4. Network and collaborate with peers in the field. 5. Stay informed about technology advancements and their impact on communication. 6. Embrace new tools and platforms to enhance your effectiveness.

Embrace the future by honing unique skills! Let's focus on what makes us irreplaceable: our creativity, emotional intelligence, and strategic prowess. Together, we'll navigate this automated landscape, mastering new tech while staying true to our human touch.

Leveraging Technology to Counter Automation Threats in Internal Communication: Embrace digital communication tools and platforms. Harness data analytics for insights and decision-making. Explore automation tools to streamline processes. Stay updated on digital trends for innovative communication strategies. Adapt to remote communication tools and practices. Utilize multimedia content for engaging communication.

I view this evolution not as a threat but as an opportunity to redefine and elevate my function. Automation brings tools and systems that streamline routine tasks, allowing me to focus on internal communication's more strategic and creative aspects. My approach involves leveraging these technological advancements to enhance engagement, personalize communication, and measure impact more effectively. Embracing automation empowers me to deliver more value, fostering a culture of transparency and collaboration within the organization.

Let's embrace technology as our ally! By harnessing automation for data insights, we can fine-tune our communication strategies and make a bigger impact. Together, we'll navigate this digital landscape, leveraging tools to elevate our roles as communicators.

A powerful tool is just a tool if there’s no master mind unleashing its full potential. Automation will help you make more accurate and fast decisions (by predicting trends, for example) and work as a time saver. Use it wisely for your benefit, don’t fight against it.

During my career I had the privilege of finding colleagues from different areas of expertise willing to share their knowledge - from Excel hacks to analytical thinking to how to use UTM parameters when you have basically no other way to track your digital performance. Don’t be afraid of raising your hand, asking for help, admitting that you need help and collaboration to face challenges and be willing to support others overcome theirs.

Collaborating Cross-Functionally to Counter Automation Threats in Internal Communication: Build relationships and foster collaboration with colleagues from different departments. Promote a collaborative culture within the organization. Seek diverse perspectives to address communication challenges. Establish cross-functional communication channels for seamless information exchange. Involve stakeholders from different departments in decision-making. Collaborate on automation implementation to enhance communication effectiveness.

Let's break down those silos together! By collaborating across departments, we can navigate the impacts of automation and ensure everyone feels heard. Together, we'll bridge gaps, crafting messages that unite us as one cohesive team.

If a doctor discovers the cure for all cancer, should they eagerly wait by the phone for someone to call them and ask if they have found the cure? Or should they proactively announce it to any and all that will listen? Asking others to verify their findings and make sure they are correct? Silos explained in the most extreme example. Waiting for others to request knowledge that you have, may seem like job security, but in actuality, it just makes you difficult to deal with. Reaching out and finding out how each party can contribute to the purpose, (for instance serving the customer,) and alleviating the work load on others, perhaps by giving them information before they need it for instance, will always result in better outcomes.

Redefining Your Role to Counter Automation Threats in Internal Communication: Become a strategic advisor. Develop specialized skills. Adapt to new technologies. Emphasize creativity and innovation. Collaborate across functions. Focus on relationship-building.

Embrace the shift! With automation streamlining routine tasks, we can refocus on what truly matters: human connection and company culture. Let's lean into roles where empathy and understanding shine, ensuring our value remains irreplaceable.

My business makes corporate videos for organizations of all kinds. Last year, I visited the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. There I witnessed a company create an AI Generated corporate video in a few minutes using only a website URL. This was a terrifying demonstration of what could be possible in the future. However, it also showed me that it will be a long time before AI can make better videos than my team can.

AI, ML or Automation whatever be the name of the technology introduced in any industrial set up nothing can beat the Human Technology. The agility and the adaptability of human mind and intellect is unmatched in any environment and all the foresaid technologies are trying to emulate or simulate the actions/reactions of human beings in any given circumstance, based on the data set provided. So, as an internal communicator one must be aware of the types of data used in the organisation besides analysing dependence of the employees on those data sets. This understanding will enable him to implement the correct strategy to steer the team towards successful accomplishment of the collective goal.