Future Proof Your Leadership with AI.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is expected to bring about far reaching effects on both businesses and society. Effective Leadership will need to evolve alongside AI.
Before exploring what is likely to become essential for leaders of the future , we need to define the two types of AI systems we will be working alongside, weak and strong AI. Weak AI is what we are currently dealing with, Siri and Alexa could be considered examples of Weak AI. Strong AI are complex , human like systems that are unpredictable. As Daniel Hulme explains in this video discussion with computer weekly “Weak AI is an accurate description of current technology”
It is believed that AI will allow leaders to shift their focus onto the people particularly while we are still dealing with Weak AI, incapable of replacing unique human qualities. Microsoft EMEA President Michel van der Bel explains these potential benefits “As AI helps leaders tackle operational tasks more effectively, they can better shift their focus on empowering their people. This means trusting people to approach challenges in their own way and ensuring they are equipped to be at their best. In short, leaders can more effectively shift from being managers to mobilizers.” In this way, AI can be seen as a strategic boardroom tool, allowing leaders to reinvest more time in their people.
The first step and likely the most important method to future proof is to learn and make use of important new technologies, as it becomes available. Becoming an early adopter is vital.
I myself have been trying to follow this advice of becoming an early adaptor. According to Falon Fatemi- Writer for Forbes business magazine “One of the most promising applications of AI is removing the inefficiencies associated with email. Research has shown that excessive emails represent the second most prevalent impediments to workplace productivity.”
With this in mind , I have introduced the potential uses for Microsoft flow and AI builder in my place of work. The purpose of Microsoft Flow is to automate routine processes that you use over and over in your work or business. Virtually all automated flows begin with a triggering event and end with an action in response to the event. This could save massive amounts of time for our employees from doing the most mundane of tasks such as saving an email attachment to one drive. This was only possible after being given the green light from management to pursue these projects.
How should a leader prepare for the future? Experts believe the following traits/ characteristics will be key for leaders of the future in the age of AI:
· Mobiliser: Inspiring people towards an envisioned future
· Social builder: Upholding human interaction
· Humanist: Valuing the creativity of people
· Mediator: Uniting humans and AI in a common quest
· Navigator: Building bridges in the AI eco-system
· Explorer: Using AI to sharpen the competitive edge
· Sense maker: Emphasizing clarity in AI design and processes
· Architect: Analysing, diagnosing, designing
· Guardian: Safeguarding the integrity of AI design and maintenance.
· Are positive enthusiastic and passionate. They are positive about others power to envision and create their future , which is not defined by the past and present of the leader.
· Are highly competent, seek continuous improvement, and embrace opportunities.
Final call to action : Embrace AI and Automation.
The worst thing for any organisation or leader to do is to reject the inevitable , to not explore new technologies and not facilitate the introduction of AI and Automation. If this isn’t facilitated then employees must do it themselves. And as it turns out , this is already happening according to Harvey Nash : “The Harvey Nash 2019 HR survey showed that over two-thirds of businesses are now investing in leadership development and e-learning programmes. At the same time, individuals in the technology sector are not passively waiting to be trained — they are taking action themselves”.
