Managing and Developing Workforce in the era of AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most transformative technologies of our time, and it is poised to have a profound impact on our future evolution. Today, AI is already being used in a wide range of applications, and its capabilities are only increasing. In the future, AI is likely to play an even greater role in our lives. Maybe it will help us solve some of the world's most pressing problems, like war, climate change, poverty, hunger, etc. It could also lead to new and exciting possibilities, such as the development of new forms of art and entertainment.

Benefits of AI

Even today, AI is benefiting people and society as a whole in a variety of compelling ways, bringing significant benefits and opportunities, making it a transformative force.

(1) Productivity, Efficiency, and Cost Reduction?

Today, AI can automate monotonous and time-consuming operations, allowing humans to focus on more high-value tasks. AI has improved human capabilities by assisting with activities requiring precision, speed, or data processing. AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants are increasingly being used to improve customer service by offering quick responses and support around the clock, thereby increasing customer happiness. Through automation, predictive maintenance, and supply chain optimization, AI is assisting in the reduction of operational expenses.? This enhancement of human capacities has already resulted in increased productivity, work performance, and efficiency in a variety of industries.?

(2) Improved Innovation and Decision-Making

AI is analyzing massive volumes of data to deliver insights that humans may find difficult to unearth. By processing and understanding these vast datasets, AI is boosting innovation by recognizing trends and recommending creative solutions. AI-powered personalization is improving user experiences. Individualized products and services are becoming increasingly popular. AI is assisting in increasing consumer happiness. Today, numerous pharmaceutical companies are attempting to develop tailored medicines (for example, ibuprofene with fewer adverse effects based on your genetics). AI is being used by these pharmaceutical companies to aid in early disease identification, drug discovery, and treatment planning, ultimately saving lives and increasing healthcare quality. AI is already proving to be a powerful tool in disciplines such as medicine, materials science, space, finance, logistics, and so on.?

(3) Solving Difficult Problems

AI is assisting people in more effectively solving complicated problems and addressing challenges. This mutually beneficial connection has the ability to spur innovation and breakthroughs. Through applications such as smart grids and predictive modeling, AI is assisting in environmental sustainability by optimizing resource management, reducing energy consumption, and mitigating the impact of climate change. Students with learning difficulties benefit from individualized learning experiences provided by AI-powered educational technologies. It is tailored to individual requirements. Assistive technologies powered by AI are dramatically increasing the quality of life for people with impairments by offering tools for communication, navigation, and daily living chores. AI is also assisting in improving safety by identifying and responding to possible threats in areas such as autonomous vehicles, industrial processes, and cybersecurity.

Potential challenges with AI in the workforce

However, there are also concerns about the potential negative impacts of AI. Some people are worried that AI could lead to mass unemployment as machines become capable of performing many of the jobs that are currently done by humans. In the era of AI, we might not be able to predict what employment or jobs will look like in the future, so to tackle these potential challenges, let's first attempt to understand some of these challenges.

(1) Job Market Uncertainty, Job Displacement, and Transformation

Rapid advancements in AI can lead to automating routine and repetitive tasks, which will increase job market volatility and uncertainty. Many jobs will undergo significant changes, leading to concerns about job displacement or job redefinition in certain industries. This will make it challenging for the workforce to plan their careers.

(2) Mental health and well-being

As AI technologies continue to advance, there is a growing gap between the skills required by the job market and the skills possessed by the current workforce. Lifelong learning will become the norm (if it has not already) as the pace of technological change accelerates. Also, with the increasing use of AI and automation, there is a risk of employees feeling pressure to work longer hours and having difficulty maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Even worse, access to tools and quality training may not be evenly distributed across all segments of the workforce. This constant demand for upskilling, the uneven distribution of training resources, life work choices, and the fear of job displacement can lead to increased stress and anxiety among the workforce and their families.

(3) Ethical Legal Challenges with Data Security and Privacy

With the proliferation of AI, the importance of safeguarding sensitive data and ensuring privacy is paramount. The use of AI raises ethical and legal questions related to privacy, transparency, accountability, and bias (yes, bias; today, if you go to an AI-generated image tool and request an AI-generated picture of a doctor, to your surprise, 95% of the time it will be White Doctor). The work force has to constantly be vigilant about these side effects and biases.?

These concerns may pose difficulties for the unprepared workforce (both teams and/or individuals).? Overcoming these challenges will require efforts from all stakeholders, including team members, middle management, executives, board members, educational institutions, governments, etc.?

Managing high performing workforce talent

People are finding themselves at a crossroads, torn between trepidation and excitement. Despite these concerns, research refutes the overstated predictions of emerging AI. We are more likely to find ourselves augmented in collaboration with machines than automated out of a job in the majority of knowledge-intensive tasks. In our personal and daily lives, AI has already quietly crept into it. An AI-driven personal assistant is helping manage schedules, suggesting the best times to complete tasks, and reminding us of important family events. AI-powered well-being applications provide valuable insights, ensuring it remains our top priority. AI-enabled cars (autonomous cars) are driving us door-to-door and changing routes based on traffic and weather conditions. AI is making a profound impact on our personal lives. We need to realize that embracing AI at work is not just a choice but a necessity in the ever-evolving world where each day brings new possibilities, new innovations, and new horizons.?

The sooner we grasp and accept this, the better it will be for us and our organization. In the latest book, I, Human: AI, Automation, and the Quest to Reclaim What Makes Us Unique , the author makes the point that we are less likely to lose our job to AI than to another human using AI, especially if we don’t use AI ourselves.? Managing workforce talent and building a high-performing team in the era of AI is a critical challenge for many leaders (including me), as we are looking to harness the power of AI to drive innovation and competitive advantage. Considering leaders in the role of coaches, whose primary responsibility it is to actively develop employees' abilities and maximize their potential, I believe that the human aspect is what makes or fails a digital transformation. Building a high-performing team in the era of AI is a critical challenge for organizations looking to harness the power of artificial intelligence to drive innovation and competitive advantage. So, what are our options? I wish I had the ability to travel into the future and learn what is required. Unfortunately, I don't have any AI tools for it yet, but based on our previous experiences with disruptive technologies, I believe we can all try and explore them.

We are less likely to lose our job to AI than to another human using AI, especially if we don’t use AI ourselves

(1) Hiring for values and strengths instead of expertise

We may not be able to predict the exact nature of tomorrow's jobs, but it is wise to hire individuals based on what they could do rather than what they have already accomplished because the shelf life of existing knowledge and experience is dwindling. This entails giving soft skills—like learning capacity, curiosity, resilience, and adaptability—a higher priority than hard skills—like programming or data mining—and putting an emphasis on the fundamental components of employability rather than on current technical proficiency or prior employment history, both of which continue to rule contemporary hiring practices. It is reasonable to assume that those who possess higher levels of learnability, curiosity, emotional intelligence (EI), and resilience will be better able to learn the skills required for new jobs and provide any human value that technology cannot replace.

(2) Clear Communication

When communication is unclear or messages are left open to interpretation, people may ruminate or overthink situations. In many such instances, effective communication can help to lessen apprehension. Positive outcomes that reduce fear can result from clear communication. The communication should have clarity, highlighting that AI is assisting humans and not replacing humans. This is crucial to ensuring that all team members understand the goals of AI projects, their potential benefits, and their outcomes. Communication is a powerful tool for reducing anxiety in various situations. Transparent communication can help alleviate anxiety. Ensuring all team members understand the objectives of the AI project clearly. Develop a clear understanding of AI ethics, regulations, and responsibility within the team and counteract AI's threat of replacing humans with human assistants. We might have to use targeted communication to bridge the gap between technical and non-technical team members, fostering collaboration between teams. Encourage the workforce to raise concerns about AI and timely address those concerns. Leaders must actively listen to workforce feedback and understand their emotions and concerns. This empathetic approach can be reassuring and help individuals feel supported. Leader’s EI is a vital tool for encouraging the workforce. It enhances understanding, promotes empathy, reduces uncertainty, and supports problem-solving.

(3) AI Skill Development

Developing AI skills for a workforce is essential for organizations looking to harness the power of artificial intelligence. Establish a culture of continuous improvement, where feedback is actively sought and used to refine learning processes. I recommend the 3E (Education, Exposure and Experience) process for this.?

Education: Start by clearly defining the objectives for developing AI skills within the team. Assess the existing skills and knowledge within the team. Identify team members with prior AI experience, if any, and evaluate their proficiency. Invest in training and upskilling teams to understand AI technologies and their applications, including ethical AI principles, responsible AI development, and data privacy. Provide resources for employees to stay updated on AI trends and tools and be prepared to adapt as the AI landscape evolves. Encouraging team members to dedicate time to skill development. Make learning part of their regular work routines. Promote peer learning and collaboration within the team.?

Exposure: Encourage team members to share knowledge, work on projects together, and learn from each other. Provide mentorship and coaching for team members who are new to AI. Experienced team members can guide and support their peers. Empower team members to use their imaginations and consider AI solutions to typical problems. Enable team members to work on practice AI projects that may not have immediate business applications. These projects can help them experiment and refine their skills. Give people the chance to explore and take risks.?

Experience: Provide opportunities for team members to apply their newly acquired AI skills to real-world projects within the organization.

(4) Leadership Skill Development

Recognizing that the most effective leaders of today might not be the greatest for the future since they might resent change and learning unless they have a firm grasp of what it takes to create a new culture in the face of technological disruption. Leadership holds the key to unlocking human potential at work, especially when the challenge is to revitalize, reenergize, and reimagine the workforce. Leaders harness the critical soft skills that will likely future-proof them and their tram by enabling them to keep up with technological advancements and drive the value realization their organizations expect from new innovations. Leadership is about the traits humans need to possess in order to lead, encourage, and bring others into a future that will undoubtedly involve AI, but that should ideally be referred to as the human-AI era. Investing in leadership is essential for successfully embracing AI in the workforce. Effective leaders will provide strategic and tactical direction for our AI vision. They will be crucial to managing effective change and evolving the culture within the team.? Leaders will act as mentors and motivators and are essential to the growth of the workforce. They are instrumental in clear and effective communication, which brings alignment. Also, they will help build ethical standards for the company's AI culture. Flexibility and innovation can both flourish in the presence of capable leadership.? They play a crucial role in ensuring that AI investments meet the needs of the workforce and society at large while also fostering the growth and competitiveness of the enterprise.

(5) Embrace Diversity and Inclusion

Embracing diversity and inclusion is not only important for ethical and social reasons but also crucial for effectively harnessing the power of AI in today's diverse and globalized world. Building a diverse team with different backgrounds, perspectives, and skill sets can lead to more well-rounded problem-solving, which is essential in the AI era. Inclusive teams are more likely to attract and retain top talent, fostering innovation and adaptability. AI decision-making and development benefit from a range of viewpoints. A diverse team combines a range of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds to provide more creative and well-rounded solutions. Diversity and inclusion foster a culture of innovation. Different perspectives and experiences lead to more creative problem-solving, critical thinking, and adaptability, which are essential in AI automation. Biases contained in training data can be inherited by AI systems, which may result in discriminating results. To ensure equity and fairness, a diverse workforce is better able to spot and eliminate prejudice in AI models. In order to ensure that AI systems are designed with global issues in mind, a diverse team is better able to comprehend and handle cultural, legal, and ethical intricacies. Organizations that embrace diversity and inclusion are more attractive to top talent. A diverse workforce can attract individuals with unique AI skills, experiences, and perspectives. The proper development and implementation of AI depend critically on promoting diversity and inclusiveness. It encourages equity, ethical concerns, and accessibility while producing better AI solutions, more innovation, and improved user experiences. Teams and organizations with a proactive commitment to diversity and inclusion are more likely to maximize AI's promise while limiting biases and hazards.

(6) Rekindle the team Culture

The collective values, beliefs, attitudes, conventions, and behaviors that define a particular group of people working together within an organization or team are referred to as team culture. The group identity and social context have an impact on how team members communicate, approach their tasks, and make decisions. Within the same organization, team cultures can differ from one team to the next and are impacted by the organization's general culture.

These values, beliefs, attitudes, conventions, and behaviors reflect the multifaceted nature of AI adoption. Embracing AI within a team requires a set of new traits to ensure success in this rapidly evolving field. Following are some of the key traits and qualities that are essential for team members in an AI-focused environment. Developing these qualities can help team members navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by AI technologies effectively.

• Change Management: Adaptability and flexibility will be key in navigating uncertainties due to AI. Organizations must build an effective change management culture to ease the transition.
• Learnability: The workforce may need to adapt to new roles, often requiring additional skills and training to remain relevant. They need to continually update their skills to keep up with changing job demands.
• Growth Mindset: The workforce may need to transition to new roles, often necessitating retraining and a shift in mindset.
• Equality: Ensuring equitable access and opportunity to AI resources.
• Focus on compliance: The workforce must be aware of data security best practices, and organizations must establish robust cybersecurity measures. They may need to navigate complex ethical dilemmas, and team culture must promote compliance with AI-related regulations.
• Life-Work Choice: Must promote work-life balance and avoid overreliance on AI-driven productivity.
• Supporting people: This entails helping people find new strengths rather than playing to their existing ones in order to make them a more adaptable version of themselves.
• Resilience: AI projects can be complex and challenging. Encouraging resilience and the ability to adapt to setbacks are important traits to develop.

Help people find new strengths rather than playing to their existing ones in order to make them a more adaptable version of themselves.

Summary

In a broader context, AI is nothing new; it is another disruptive technology, just like earlier technologies. When steam engines were discovered or when computers were discovered, humans had similar anxiety, but if we look at it, these technologies have created more opportunities for humans, reminding the world that, with a willingness to embrace the future, remarkable transformations were not just possible but inevitable.

AI has the potential to extend human cognition when dealing with complexity by having better computational information processing capability and an analytical approach, yet humans can still offer a more holistic, intuitive approach when dealing with uncertainty and equivocality in organizational decision-making. This notion is similar to the concept of intelligence augmentation, which asserts that AI systems should be created with the goal of supplementing rather than replacing human contributions. The narrative of embracing AI needs to continue to grow, painting a picture of a future where humans and machines work hand in hand, each bringing unique strengths to the table. AI-driven solutions were paving the way for innovation, discovery, and progress on a scale previously unimaginable. The embrace of AI will transform our lives, guiding humanity towards a brighter, more efficient, and interconnected future. And in the heart of it all, the power of human ingenuity and the potential of AI are intertwined. Get ready, and help your team get ready too.?

Reference:

58% of Employers Believe Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality Will Be Job Creators. (n.d.). https://www.manpowergroup.com/en/news-releases/news/58-of-employers-believe-artificial-intelligence-and-virtual-reality-will-be-job-creators

Li, L. (2022, July 13). Reskilling and Upskilling the Future-ready Workforce for Industry 4.0 and Beyond. Information Systems Frontiers. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10796-022-10308-y

N. E. T. (2020, July 23). The AI Awakening: Implications for the Economy [Erik Brynjolfsson]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNX_6gzLIvI

Chamorro-Premuzic, T. (2023, July 25). When Your Employee Isn’t Reaching Their Full Potential. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2023/07/when-your-employee-isnt-reaching-their-full-potential

Frankiewicz, B. (2020, May 12). Digital Transformation Is About Talent, Not Technology. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2020/05/digital-transformation-is-about-talent-not-technology

Hogan, R., Chamorro-Premuzic, T., & Kaiser, R. B. (2013, March). Employability and Career Success: Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Reality. Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 6(1), 3–16. https://doi.org/10.1111/iops.12001

I, Human: AI, Automation, and the Quest to Reclaim What Makes Us Unique, Chamorro-Premuzic, Tomas, eBook - Amazon.com . (n.d.). https://www.amazon.com/Human-Automation-Quest-Reclaim-Unique-ebook/dp/B099KQV3ZJ

Hogan, R., Chamorro-Premuzic, T., & Kaiser, R. B. (2013, March). Employability and Career Success: Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Reality. Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 6(1), 3–16. https://doi.org/10.1111/iops.12001

Fuller, J. (2022, December 2). Skills-Based Hiring Is on the Rise. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2022/02/skills-based-hiring-is-on-the-rise

Chamorro-Premuzic, T. (2023, October 9). 5 Ways to Develop Talent for an Unpredictable Future. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2023/10/5-ways-to-develop-talent-for-an-unpredictable-future

Jarrahi, M. H. (2023, June 8). What Will Working with AI Really Require? Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2023/06/what-will-working-with-ai-really-require

Zheng, W. (2023, September 28). What Makes an Inclusive Leader? Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2023/09/what-makes-an-inclusive-leader

Insights on Artificial Intelligence. (2023, July 11). McKinsey & Company. https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/quantumblack/our-insights

Schmidt, A. (2023, May 30). Navigating the Mental Effects of AI-Driven Upskilling Demands | Journal by getAbstract. Journal by getAbstract. https://journal.getabstract.com/en/2023/05/11/navigating-the-mental-effects-of-ai-driven-upskilling-demands/

?(ChatGPT, 2023) Reference list: ChatGPT. (2023, January 18).

Bing Image Creator

Thank you David Sangster and Kathy Chou for guidance and support.?