With the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace, it’s crucial that you integrate the technology into your business. But that’s not enough. Marc Booker, Ph.D., Vice Provost of Strategy at the University of Phoenix, says companies need to “lean into AI” and set an AI organizational philosophy.
I asked Dr. Booker to share some tips:
Tip 1 (somewhat obvious but often overlooked)
Believe that your existing employees can lean into AI and have the skills and abilities to be upskilled instead of going outside your business. In a recent study, more than half of workers say knowing how to leverage AI would give them an advantage in their careers. Several roles tied to AI (like prompt engineering) do not need long-form credentials, such as a data science or programming degree. Taking existing personnel and unlocking their potential through training is often a cleaner and more efficient path that also drives better employee engagement than hiring externally.
Tip 2
Create an environment that encourages the exploration of AI solutions in your workplace. There is no better teacher than hands-on practice; hands-on practice that leads to improvement is a powerful agent for change. To upskill workers with AI create organizationally approved initiatives where employees can use different AI tools as an opportunity to potentially solve organizational problems. This approach has numerous benefits, including learning more about AI models, improving users’ skills, limiting risk from employees using unsupported tools, and improving company processes with the outcomes of experimentation.
Tip 3
Develop an organizational philosophy about AI. Upskilling employees requires a clear path and direction on what is necessary to learn and apply to improve a business. AI and its uses, models, applications, and designs are vast and varied. A company that has not taken the time to create a philosophy, determine ethical use, and identify goals will have difficulty directing employees to the right training or programs to upskill properly. Focusing on this will create clear pathways of development that benefit both the employee and the business.
Tip 4
Implement mentorship and community practice opportunities. Formal training programs are an excellent starting point for those getting into the field of AI, but internal programs or communities can unlock further potential in upskilling staff members and improving their ability to interact and engage with different models or tools. Whether it is more personal, like 1:1 mentoring or a larger community of practice groups, providing formal programs for your business to engage in and discover how to better leverage and apply AI can act as a fertile ground to support employee upskilling on a practical level.
Rieva Lesonsky is CEO of GrowBiz Media, a media and custom content company focusing on small business and entrepreneurship. Email Rieva at rieva@smallbusinesscurrents.com, follow her on Twitter @Rieva, and visit her website SmallBusinessCurrents.com to get the scoop on business trends and sign up for Rieva’s free Currents newsletter.
Artificial Intelligence stock image by DC Studio/Shutterstock
