Three Leadership Strategies to Navigate AI Transformation

Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash

Years ago I worked on a project that involved a data breach. The urgency of the situation and its substantial financial implications demanded quick action.  New technology solutions we considered to prevent future breaches were powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI was a new concept for me at the time. I framed a learning plan to get up to speed. Fortunately, the firm I worked for had an AI expert in house who provided me with a primer on the history of AI and its diverse applications. This enabled me to quickly translate learnings into valuable client recommendations.

Fast forward to today, AI is progressing at an astonishing rate. According to HBR 89% of large companies globally are embarking on digital and AI transformations. 

In my leadership coaching practice a common and pressing question often arises:

How can I effectively navigate and lead in an AI fast-evolving era? 

I've distilled three essential strategies from my own AI learning journey. Whether you're an aspiring leader or a senior executive, these strategies provide a blueprint for excelling as a leader in this dynamic landscape.

Strategy 1: Learn the Basics

While becoming an AI expert isn't necessary (unless this is your role!), understanding the fundamentals is imperative.

I recommend three free learning courses to get you started

• Career Essentials In Generative AI By Microsoft And Linkedin

• Introduction to Generative AI by Google

• Generative AI for Business Leaders

Pro tips:

• Post your certifications on LinkedIn. This not only demonstrates your commitment to continuous learning but also inspires your team to follow suit.

• Read: What’s the future of generative AI? An early view in 15 charts

• Read: AI Prompt Engineers Earn $300k Salaries: Here's How To Learn The Skill For Free

Love what you’re learning? Share the insights and help others be On Point.

Strategy 2: Experiment

When it comes to learning new technology, nothing beats hands-on experience. Recently I enrolled in a Storytelling with AI course. I learned a host of new AI tools like Chat GPT and Midjourney, dove deep on prompting techniques, and met new friends who share my passion for creative writing and technology (bonus!).  

Investing your time in AI experimentation isn't only a strategic move; it's also an adventure that aligns you with the most innovative companies. For perspective, consider that approximately 80% of product innovations at Microsoft Bing (powered by Open AI’s ChatGPT) originate from experimentation.  

In your next leadership meeting, consider experimenting together. Use ChatGPT to help shape your next meeting agenda, Bing to help plan a team offsite, or Google Bard to compare team offsite ideas that Bing generated.

Pro Tip: Read How Managers Can Build a Culture of Experimentation to learn experimentation techniques

Strategy 3:  Apply learnings

Challenge yourself and your team to apply your newly acquired knowledge and explore AI's potential impact on your daily workflow. Here are 3 ways I use AI to transform my work:

• Develop creative product or business names. I recently used AI to spark creativity by brainstorming imaginative product names for a business case study I was teaching. 

• Research companies:  ChatGPT and Bing have become my go-to for quick industry highlights, competitive analysis, and market dynamics for investing insights. Analyst reports are still my favorite, though this AI research hack is money!

• Troubleshoot Excel: Have you ever received error messages on Excel or Google Sheets?  Copy and paste Excel error messages into ChatGPT for troubleshooting and explanations. No more sifting through dozens of links and watching YouTube tutorials!

Pro Tip: Read How to Capitalize on Generative AI

Conclusion

Change brings both disruption and opportunities. The rapid evolution of AI presents a learning moment for leaders at all levels. The story of my own journey, from addressing a data breach crisis to discovering the remarkable applications of AI, underscores that you can swiftly acquire new knowledge and apply emerging technologies to solve critical business problems. New technologies and business models will continually emerge. Your ability to learn quickly, experiment, and apply new models are timeless moves that lead to lasting success.

Next Action

Wondering how AI, among other strategic options, fit into your company’s strategy and planning process? 

We tackle this in my new live course, Strategy & Planning Bootcamp, a dynamic 3-week journey to master business strategy, enhance strategic skills, and inspire action. I teach the course with my brilliant co-instructor, Sam Liu, MBA Adj. Prof. at Columbia & Partner at Mercer. We offer leaders and operators an insider's view on how top-tier companies shape strategy and deliver results.

More info and enroll at Strategy & Planning Bootcamp - where you can also see why students love the course. 

As loyal On Point readers, I’d like to co-invest with you on your learning journey. Use code: EARLYACCESS10 for a 10% course discount. We offer scholarships to ensure equal learning opportunities. Email me for more info.

Read widely, learn deeply, be On Point.

Joselle

joselle@berightonpoint.com