Don’t Lie About AI
The cruelest AI strategy is false assurance.
People know artificial intelligence will eliminate jobs.
Telling people, “Artificial intelligence won’t replace you,” destroys trust when the future is uncertain. And you look manipulative.
How to Lead Through AI Disruption
#1. Don’t make promises you can’t keep.
Don’t say, “Your job is safe.”
Say, “We’re committed to helping people become more valuable.”
Equip people for what’s next.
#2. Respect anxiety.
Resistance isn’t ignorance.
People worry because jobs will disappear. Roles will shrink. Many skills will become less valuable.
Reasonable concern isn’t a bad attitude.
#3. Say what you know, and what you don’t.
False optimism insults people.
Explain what you expect. Admit uncertainty.
Trust grows when leaders tell the truth. Speak up before reality speaks for you.
#4. Invest in capability, not comfort.
People are the answer to our deepest problems. Not technology.
Comfort says, “Nothing is going to change.”
Capability says, “Things are changing. We’re committed to help you adapt.”
Artificial intelligence will change work. Your ability to adapt changes your future.
Teach people to use new technologies. Give opportunities to experiment. Develop skills that become more valuable as jobs disappear.
#5. Talk about what goes away.
Don’t calm anxiety by denying reality.
Ask:
- What work will we stop doing?
- What roles will change?
- What skills will become less valuable?
- What will become more valuable?
The future needs leaders with courage and compassion.
You can’t remove uncertainty.
You can reject deception.
How can leaders tell the truth about artificial intelligence without creating unnecessary fear?
This post is inspired by Gleb Tsipursky’s new book The Psychology of AI Adoption at Work: From Resistance to Results.
How Successful Leaders Navigate Disruption – Leadership Freak
How to Be a Successful Change Leader | CCL
Well-timed. Thank you, Dan.
Hi Joe. Good to see you here this morning.
Excellent post. Many of my colleagues are in denial. I tell them the story of mu aunt Lollie who was a switch board operator, in a union, and thought she would retire in that position…never happened. You can’t stop technology.
You’re right, Bob. Our problem is technology has surpassed our own character and virtue.
Dan, since March this year I have rolled out AI within my organisation using essentially what you have outlined. The focus is creating value. This has included ongoing training in its use since then and this will continue for another 12 months. Policy is in place, strategy is in place, support manuals in place. At the end of the day I need my people to do work that excites them and provide a deeper experience for customers. And yes, I’m looking to increase staff numbers even though we are now in a world that has gone off the rails economically.
Wonderful story, Sean. Thanks for sharing. It goes to show that people rise to challenges when those challenges are faced honestly.
As someone that was leading engineering organizations, AI has brought about a change that will invalidated the last 20 years of books I have read about team building, team size, composition, etc. Having a supportive board that said they wanted to help us “adapt” didn’t help any because when business “adapts” it fires and makes sure profits before people.
I think the scariest part of working at a place like that is you know no matter how hard you work it is only a matter of time before you are replaced by an agent. “Quiet Quitting” should be the response – and I mean that in a ‘good way’ with boundaries and appropriately knowing what you are being paid for (and not being paid for) and making sure not a second of your time goes to the business for which you are not being paid.
Instead spend that time on yourself, your own business or brand, or do what you want until the AI finishes the job. Consume less, live with less, and be happy. And one can hope that the AI bubble will burst before everyone loses their investment and the banks bail out the rich again.
Thanks, J. I love a comment with a viewpoint. Each sector will have to find its own way to deal with this.
Consume less, live with les and be happy is great advice for everyone. Want less to have more.
I wish you well.
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