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A friend fulfilled a lifelong dream of purchasing and completely renovating a small seaside hotel. Shortly before the grand opening, she created a website. The descriptions of the rooms and facilities were sophisticated, like those found in glossy travel magazines. I asked who she hired to create the text. Her answer surprised me. The explanation was courtesy of her ChatGPT.
Admittedly, the text wasn’t perfect. The backstory of the hotel was missing. I thought it would be a great opportunity to share how a friend of mine visited this hotel many years ago and fell in love with its simple charm. I used the word “polite” many times. Looking at my friend’s dream hotel website, I noticed two things about her. One is that the AI is amazing.of OECD It was recently reported that ChatGPT can write jokes, computer code, essays, create medical diagnoses, create games, and explain complex scientific concepts. Still, ChatGPT isn’t perfect. And second, when combined with an editor’s eye and human touch, it can be a powerful tool. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
The age of AI is here and its potential to change the landscape of work cannot be overstated. That being said, most knowledgeable workers will be able to leverage his AI to complement their jobs rather than completely replace it. The missing link? Education and training — it’s more than just an office perk. recent research We found that 4 out of 5 employees want to learn more about how to use AI in their profession. It is the responsibility of leaders to provide these important training opportunities.
Here, we take a closer look at how leaders can bridge the gap between AI and the workforce and equip employees with the skills they need in this era of rapid change.
Related: How to successfully implement AI into your business — overcome challenges and build a future-ready team
Why (and what) to learn
as CEO jotto form, We want our employees to live fulfilling lives and have time for friends, family, and hobbies. It’s good for their health and, as an added perk, benefits our organization in terms of creativity and productivity. Happier, more refreshed employees bring valuable energy to work. As a leader, we also understand that adding learning to an already full workforce may seem unrealistic. However, ongoing training is essential for employee advancement and the health of your company.
Today’s average is Skill half-life Less than five years, but in some technology fields it can be two and a half years. the study shows that companies with strong learning cultures have higher retention rates, internal mobility, and healthier management pipelines compared to companies with weak learning cultures. Moreover, employee People are hungry for new skills, especially Gen Z, the fastest growing generation in the workforce. Youngest generation of employees (born after 1996) It is expected to overtake the boomer generation this year. A recent study found that 53% of Gen Zers value learning to advance their careers, compared to 37% of Millennials, Gen Xers, and Boomers combined.
The question is, what are the most important skills to provide your employees?
The obvious answer is the availability of new technologies such as AI and automation tools. And definitely, that’s part of the equation. But as AI plays a larger role in our work lives, the value of human skills will grow as well.
as harvard business review As the example of my friend’s hotel website shows, AI lacks the human ability to understand context. An AI tool like ChatGPT may understand and execute an assignment almost perfectly, but the “why” of it all and the expertise it has gained through years of experience to evaluate the material in its larger context is missing.
Other important skills that AI lacks include people management abilities such as effective communication, conflict resolution, and problem solving. Ted English, former CEO of TJX Companies and now executive chairman of Bob’s Discount Furniture, said: harvard business reviewleadership “requires a lot of instinct, experience, and knowledge, some of which you can’t get from a machine. Technology can enhance that and allow you to make decisions with more confidence.”
You can rely on AI for certain tasks, from content creation to document review. They will enhance our work. However, you need a human eye to review that work product and make sure it has the right context and quality. In that sense, humans will also strengthen the work of AI.
Related: AI vs. Humans — Why Humans Always Win in Content Creation
Improving the learning environment
It is already well established that companies and employees that utilize AI have a competitive advantage. The challenge for leaders is to empower employees to do so. How can leaders ensure their employees are properly trained to use the latest AI and automation tools?
Part of the equation is motivating employees. the study shows that employees who set career goals are four times more engaged than those who don’t. Leaders and managers can set aside time to discuss employees’ career goals and how developing specific skills can further those goals.
Of course, the most valuable asset for learning, and the most difficult to find, is time. One strategy for creating learning time is to incorporate learning into employees’ workflows, rather than requiring them to take time outside of their regular workday. Research shows that most employees prefer that way of learning in 2021. BCG survey Of 209,000 workers, 65% said they prefer to learn on the job. After nearly 20 years of running a company, I’ve found that it’s well worth taking time out for training during lunch or between regularly scheduled tasks. Not only does it change the pace of his day, it challenges employees in new ways and rapidly increases daily engagement.
Related: Make time for learning when no one else has time
Another way leaders can help employees fit training and education into their busy schedules is by promoting an automation-first mindset. Encourage employees to regularly reflect on which tasks are most meaningful to them, i.e., which projects or assignments are putting them in a state of “flow.” They want to figure out which tasks they want to spend more time on, and the AI and automation tools to do the remaining tasks. This habit saves time, speeds up or outsources boring and busy tasks, and most importantly saves mental energy.
The emergence of AI is not something to be taken lightly. But that’s not necessarily a change that employees should fear. The companies that gain a competitive advantage from AI will be the ones that rethink business-as-usual in the AI era and provide their employees with the resources to take advantage of AI. The more time you spend doing meaningful work – work that only humans can do – the happier your employees will be and the stronger your company will be.