Leading Change: Preparing your people for the future with AI agents

Last month, I took on a mini-project of analyzing several new AI agent platforms. I studied their capabilities, practiced by launching a few of my own, and tried to map where I would benefit the most from using these AI agents. It was also fascinating to understand the power of multi-agents and their potential to help all levels in organizations, from leadership in strategic decision-making to integrating them into existing day-to-day workflows.

Technology is available and ready. AI agents have shown clear signs of entering workplaces, with several big players stepping into the space. Examples include Microsoft's agents created in Copilot Studio and OpenAI's AI Agent called Operator to Agentforce launched by Salesforce and to Ex-Salesforce Co-CEO launched AI startup called Sierra to name a few.

Leaders are already seeing the changes, and enterprise agentic AI will especially bring massive potential to productivity.

This transformation is fundamentally changing how we think, create, and lead. Organizations are starting to identify why AI agents will transform the way we work. To understand the benefits and to describe AI agents, we can see five key characteristics.

Five Key Characteristics of AI Agents:

1. Autonomy: Operate independently without constant human oversight.
2. Goal-Oriented: Programmed to achieve specific objectives, from simple tasks to complex processes.
3. Adaptability: Learn from outcomes and adjust actions to improve effectiveness over time.
4. Integrative: Connect with various data sources and systems to gather information and perform actions.
5. Scalability: Handle tasks requiring significant resources, effectively scaling team capabilities.

In 2025, we will see these agents entering our work, bringing even more transformation, redesigning workflows and leadership. This also comes with a big responsibility for leaders to understand the change and to place people at the heart of these advancements.

Adopting AI Agents with a People-First Approach

At its core, any technological integration should create opportunities for teams to do their best work. AI agents are designed to augment human capabilities, taking over routine tasks to free up everyone for more meaningful work. However, without a people-first approach, the introduction of AI agents can lead to fear, resistance, and disengagement.

Here are a few ways leaders can prepare today for the arrival of AI agents with their teams. No matter what solution the company chooses to use, the focus should remain on ensuring people are willing to welcome new ways of working, exploring, and trying these technologies.

Without a people-first approach, many of these opportunities will fail.

Here are 5 small steps you can take with your people to prepare for AI Agents:

Learn the Foundations of AI agents Together

• Encourage a culture of shared learning by exploring AI agents alongside your team.
• Provide opportunities for everyone to familiarize themselves with AI's capabilities and also potential pitfalls.
• By learning together, empower your people and ensure that new technology benefits everyone.

Introduce AI agents as a Topic in Leadership Meetings

• In your next leadership meeting, share specific examples of how AI agents are benefiting similar organizations.
• Identify champions within the leadership team who are excited to learn more and explore AI agents. These leaders will be key supporters who can spearhead AI agent initiatives when ready to launch.
• Early discussions help in strategizing the integration process and addressing concerns proactively.

Engage with Your Teams and Address Concerns Early

• Communicate openly with your teams about new technologies that are emerging.
• Listen to everyone's thoughts and address concerns as they arise.
• Involving your team demonstrates respect and ensures everyone feels valued during the discussions.
• Organize a lunch-and-learn session to introduce the concept of AI agents in a welcoming setting.

Map Your Business Processes

• A clear understanding of your current processes is critical to identifying where AI agents can add the most value.
• Work hand-in-hand with your teams to map out business processes and workflows.
• Together, review the mapped processes to identify repetitive tasks, bottlenecks, or data-heavy activities that AI agents could improve.
• This collaborative approach honors your team’s expertise and fosters a sense of ownership over the changes.

Start with Small Pilot Project

• Choose simple tasks that could benefit from automation, such as research agents, content creation agents, or personal agents.
• Test and iterate to learn from the process, identifying pitfalls, wins, and areas for improvement.
• Show the value and demonstrate how these agents directly benefit your team.
• Celebrate these early successes together to build momentum and confidence in the new technology.

By following these steps, leaders can integrate AI agents into their organizations effectively, ensuring that employees feel supported and involved at every stage of the transition. This people-first approach ensures the success of both the technology and the teams that use it.

Leading with AI Agents, Keeping People First

AI agents are here to transform the way we work, but their success depends on one thing: how we integrate them with our people. Leaders who prioritize transparency, collaboration, and trust will unlock their full potential.

By learning together, mapping processes, and starting small, we build confidence and momentum. Engage your people, build trust, and celebrate success as you drive innovation with AI. When leaders involve their people from day one, the integration of AI Agents becomes smoother. Together, we adapt to new ways of working, embrace change, and, most importantly, ensure everyone thrives.

AI Opportunity at Work

I’m Tarja Stephens, and I work with leaders to navigate the human side of AI adoption. At AI Opportunity, we put people first because they’re the heart of every successful transformation. Our focus is on creating AI solutions that help leaders empower their teams to embrace AI with confidence, ensuring that technology supports people, not the other way around. Together, we can build workplaces where AI amplifies human potential and everyone thrives.

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