Insight from Microsoft’s WorkLab Survey on AI

Here’s 4 ways to integrate AI at work

Read Time: 3 minutes

I’ve been thinking a great deal about how we can harness the power of AI technology to upskill our teams and add ROI. Here’s how 👇🏻

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Have an end goal
• Address the elephant in the room
• Find your champions
• Mute the haters

Build YOUR AI Plan 🎯

Start with a clear end goal. What do you want to achieve with AI? Here are a few that I’ve heard from companies this year:

• Boost Efficiency: Aim for a 30% increase in marketing/sales team efficiency using AI tools.
• Enhance Content Quality: Use AI to rework video, audio, images, and output formats for more engaging content.
• Automate Mundane Tasks: Free up your team’s time by automating repetitive tasks – like that PDF that your CS team opens from customers 243 times each week and manually enters.
• Recruit Top AI Talent: Attract and hire individuals who can drive your AI initiatives to success.

Many leaders acknowledge AI’s significance but struggle with implementation due to concerns about measuring ROI and lacking a clear AI strategy. Keep it simple. Have an end goal in mind, get the right people on the bus to execute it, and test your way to where you want to go.

Here’S How I can Help Your Team Integrate AI 👋🏻

1. Hire the pros (who make this newsletter for you)! Take this two minute quiz to see how we can help your team integrate AI tools across your processes.
2. Spending too much time creating content? Try Koala.sh my pick for the best AI-generated content. I use it and so do 4 companies I know.

Address the Elephant in the Room 🐘

When I give talks on AI, I often hear a lot of fear and uncertainty among team members. People worry about job security (will AI replace my job?), how AI will impact their roles, and what AI will mean for their creative processes.

While we might not have all the answers, it’s crucial to foster an environment of transparency and commitment to testing. Here’s how:

• AI Testing: Commit to one AI test per month. Remember, these tests should not be included in your regular KPIs.
• Team Training: Hold quarterly training sessions on AI best practices to keep your team updated and prepared.

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A new study from Microsoft’s WorkLab on AI adoption at work shows that the reality is that you won’t get hired without AI skills. You can fight against it and risk getting left behind, or you can embrace it and position yourself well for the future.

Find Your Champions 🏆

Identify team members who are enthusiastic about AI. These champions can lead the way by:

• Testing New Tools: Provide them with the latest AI tools and training.
• Accelerating Initiatives: Support their efforts to integrate AI into daily tasks.
• Mentorship: Encourage them to mentor others on the team, spreading AI knowledge and skills.

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​Data shows that marketing roles are leading the way in incorporating AI into their work. That said, we have a long way to go from the occasional single prompt use to a multi-step series of prompts that can be repeatably used by your entire sales or marketing department.

Mute the Haters 🔇

Inevitably, a small subset of people will want you to fail. Put them on mute.

These are different from skeptics—I love skeptics who raise legitimate concerns about the issues AI may present (Security, Hallucinations, Ethics). Embrace skeptics; they make us all better.

Haters are unable to “disagree and commit.” Those who are unwilling to test AI and only wish for failure are not going to help you win more. Focus on the ones who are committed to the team’s success.

Often, the difference between skeptics and haters is a genuine fear and unwillingness to learn. While it can be hard to overcome, tailored training and 1:1 support may help.

Integrating AI into your teams will take YEARS of work:

1. Have a plan
2. Address the elephant in the room
3. Find your champions
4. Mute the haters

How is your team handling AI? Hit ‘reply’ and let me know! I love to hear your truth.