Onboarding AI

The simple mindset shift to fuel smarter AI adoption

New technologies constantly send ripples through the business world – but, AI is different. In some ways, it is just another new technology, but it is also something on an entirely different scale. It’s referred to as “transformational,” and “game-changing” but also, “intimidating” and “overwhelming.”

So – how do you approach integrating something as epic as AI into your everyday business? To answer that question, we’ve interviewed dozens of experts, entrepreneurs, and creative leaders to understand just what differentiates those who are able to effectively engage with AI from the rest of the pack.?

And, what we found might surprise you.?

It’s not necessarily the largest, most well-funded, or most technically advanced companies that are at the forefront of impactful AI adoption. Rather, the most effective companies in this space are those with leaders who adopt a mindset of curiosity, openness, and infinite learning.

As Reid Hoffman ( Greylock partner, LinkedIn co-founder, and Masters of Scale podcast host) puts it, “This is the time to adopt a new leadership mindset that embraces innovation for years to come…even if we can’t comprehend what that innovation looks like yet.”

To cultivate this mindset, the first step is this one simple reframe: don’t think of AI as a new technology you have to wrangle. Instead, imagine AI as a new hire on your team.

Here are a few classic onboarding tactics and management strategies that you can use to start integrating your new AI teammate into business as usual.

Introduce AI to the team and get to know each other: Bonding exercises and icebreakers

First encounters with AI must build trust with your team through communication and collaboration. So, this inflection point will benefit from a thoughtful onboarding program and a classic listening tour. Have open and honest conversations about AI with your team, and learn about it together. Share your goals around AI, how you intend to engage with it, and new skills you’ve learned. Be sure to also address your team’s concerns. Emphasize what you aim to solve with AI and its potential to amplify both individual and business-wide capabilities.

Outline and assign responsibilities: Tasks, projects and teams ?

A smart manager is someone who recognizes their employees' strengths and deploys them where they benefit the business the most. So like you do with any new employee, figure out exactly how to work together with AI and where it best fits in your organization. And always remember, you’re the boss. John Maeda (VP of Design and AI at 微软 ) reinforces this mindset of viewing AI as a thought partner: "You're collaborating with your AI. You have to be a good boss. If you don't give it a smart goal, it's not gonna know what to do."?

Stay open-minded and flexible: Growth and adaptation?

Explore AI tools with a sense of wonder, curiosity, and optimism. Take risks, ask big questions, and try new and daunting tasks. “Play with AI. Don’t be intimidated by the fact that it seems really complicated,” notes Morgan DeBaun (CEO, Blavity Inc. ) Involve your employees in creative and fun explorations that highlight its capabilities and potential. The more you can expand their familiarity and strengthen their confidence in experimenting with AI, the more successful you will be in sparking new, bottom-up ideas about how your team can effectively leverage AI to solve key business challenges.

Elevate individual capability: Enhancement not replacement

Too much has been made about the potential for AI to replace people. The real story is how much it can exponentially enhance the capacity of every person on the team. It’s vital that your employees understand this “enhance not replace” approach – and the understanding that AI can elevate the creative potential of every person throughout an organization. Morgan DeBaun expands on this idea. “Ask how AI accelerates your job and your value, and how much faster can you reskill yourself and understand new content, so that you can spend more time on your code of genius.” Rana el Kaliouby, Ph.D. (Deputy CEO of Smart Eye ) further explains: "The folks who figure out how to partner with AI to be more productive or more creative or more connected or more empathetic, are going to do better and be more competitive, more marketable, and more in demand than people who don't."

Pair AI with your most creative thinkers: Surprises, creativity and new ideas?

While there is a preconception that AI will primarily impact technology sectors, its infinite applications will be driven by creativity and curiosity. “The most creative people are the ones who will get the most out of AI,” observes Morgan DeBaun . Whether you use AI to inspire a creative project, to brainstorm ideas, or to help interpret a complex challenge, view it as a collaborator that can help you unleash the team’s creativity even further. For example, AI can chip in as an idea generator and a sounding board. It can be both insightful cheerleader and devil’s advocate strengthening your pitch and poking holes in your argument. Remember, AI can be an incredible creative partner – but is only as good as the questions you and your team ask of it.?

Keep it real: AI works best with HI (human intelligence)

AI is a perpetual innovation generator. It is creatively rambunctious and bursting with ideas. Some are good; some not so much. But don’t look to AI for singularly definitive or “right” answers. Instead, use it to weed out the wrong ideas, find sparks of inspiration, and identify conversation starters. That has been the experience of Elan Lee (Co-Creator and CEO of Exploding Kittens, Inc. )? “AI can supply these beautifully long lists, and it’s up to me to say, ‘nope, nope, yes, a little of that.’ The human element is what changes AI from a tool to a collaboration.”?

AI is just getting started – and while there are still plenty of unknowns, your team’s ability to experiment, iterate, and learn will drastically set you apart from your competitors. The best way to lead your team through this evolving landscape is not to posit having all the answers – rather, it’s to continue asking smart questions along the way. With a curious mindset and a thoughtful onboarding checklist in hand, you’ll be well-prepared to welcome AI to your team –?and, to maximize the potential this new technology poses for your business.

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