AI continues to embed itself in the business sector. However, the discussion often overlooks an important part in the shadows: the people. Training people in agile engineering and system integration is not enough.
Today’s “AI experts” focus more on the technology and process sides of the “People, Process and Technology” paradigm. They think that developing technology will create business value and development processes will ensure consistency. However, this view is flawed because it ignores the important role of the people who use these systems.
Many times, “experts” promote certain skills. This creates unnecessary and negative impacts on the organization.
My message in this article is clear: The adoption of AI is an important strategy that must be directed at the organizational level and managed by leaders clearly and carefully.
Why humans matter in the AI ecosystem
No matter how advanced, technology requires human understanding to be successful. When organizations focus too little on people, they create programs that do not match the needs and skills of employees. This disagreement can lead to:
- Resisting your teams.
- Inequality of job opportunities.
- Declining morale.
- Finally, the inefficiency of AI systems.
A fundamental shift in putting people and their skills first is essential.
Soft skills are required to be given equal opportunity
The Pew Research Center surveyed more than 11,000 US adults about their use of AI, excitement about the technology and knowledge of where AI is being used. The findings show that awareness of AI varies significantly across gender, race, age, education and income levels.
There is a lot of information in the chart, but the key takeaway is that awareness of AI is highly skewed based on gender and ethnicity:
- Men are more likely to have the most awareness, while women have the least awareness.
- African Americans and Hispanics are more likely to have high low self-awareness and low high self-awareness.
The message is clear: Organizational leaders must play a role in guiding the adoption of AI. They must ensure that the soft skills of all team members are considered to prevent inequality in career opportunities.
Dig deep: Why brands should close the knowledge gap in AI adoption
Non-technical jobs will drive the most value in AI
Despite what some may think, the success of AI is not only in the hands of technical experts. McKinsey highlights that a staggering 75% of AI will be found in five business functions, three of which are non-technical: customer service, marketing and sales.
Go-to-market (GTM) teams play a critical role in delivering value to their organizations. However, this does not mean that organizations should only focus on a GTM AI strategy. They need a comprehensive, organization-wide strategy for a GTM application.
Soft skills: The heart of AI adoption success
When planning an organization-wide AI program, considering soft skills is critical. These skills are key to successfully managing change and helping teams adapt to AI. They are the glue that holds technological innovations into a cohesive, functional reality.
Cognitive psychology shows how humans interact with AI. Successful AI adoption requires a growth mindset, fostering curiosity and supporting the mindset shift needed to use AI effectively. If employees feel supported in these areas, organizations can have smoother transitions and greater engagement with AI.
Mental growth
Growth mindset is the belief that skills and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. This mindset is important in an AI-driven organization because it enables employees to see challenges as opportunities for development rather than obstacles. Fostering a growth mindset leads to higher productivity and engagement, as employees are more likely to take initiative, embrace new technologies and continually develop their skills.
About 17% of workers who are more concerned about AI today than last year say they personally know someone whose job was replaced by AI, according to EY. Understanding and cultivating a growth mindset fosters an environment where learning and adaptation become integral to business success.
Employee confidence and resilience
Confidence and resilience involves equipping employees with the ability to adapt and make informed decisions in the face of uncertainty. In an AI-forward organization, where rapid technological changes are the norm, the ability to handle ambiguity without undue stress is essential. Up to 75% of workers are worried that AI will make certain jobs redundant, with many (65%) saying they are worried that AI will replace their jobs. By building confidence and resilience, organizations ensure that employees remain productive, engaged and able to face challenges while reducing anxiety and creating a stable and positive work environment.
Dig deep: The human-friendly way to discover AI in marketing
Mental flexibility, agility and growth
Cognitive flexibility refers to the ability to adapt one’s thinking and behavior based on new information and changing circumstances. This skill is essential in an AI-rich environment, where the agility to change strategies and embrace novel ideas enhances personal and organizational growth.
By fostering cognitive flexibility, organizations enable employees to innovate and proactively respond to AI-driven insights, making informed decisions that improve business success.
Responsible and responsible decision making
This technique involves creating structures where decisions are made through careful consideration of ethical standards and organizational goals. In the context of AI, responsible decision-making ensures that technology is used wisely and transparently, fostering trust and accountability.
Today, two issues top the list of employers’ concerns: the quality of AI results and the speed at which AI is adopted. Understanding this process is key for employees to manage AI tools effectively and ethically, ensuring that AI-driven decisions align with broader business values and contribute positively to organizational goals.
Collaboration skills
Effective collaboration is critical to integrating AI into workflows and harnessing its full potential. This capability includes fostering open communication, collaboration and cross-functional collaboration, bringing together departmental groups to create a unified AI implementation strategy.
Collaboration capabilities allow employees to contribute diverse ideas and foster innovation, driving collective productivity and ensuring that AI advances are effectively implemented across the organization.
Dig deep: 5 ways to jumpstart AI adoption
Bringing everyone along for the ride
The adoption of AI should not divide workers into those who get it and those who don’t. Instead, create a culture of inclusion where everyone in the organization feels part of the change. It’s about making sure everyone is included, not by forcing them to learn coding languages, but by fostering an environment where learning, adaptation and participation in all activities are encouraged and valued.
Embracing AI means investing in soft skills and mental readiness to ensure success. By combining AI with human power, businesses can leverage it effectively and create a workforce ready to thrive in an AI-driven world.
Dive deep: AI readiness checklist: 7 key steps for successful integration
Contributing writers are invited to create MarTech content and are selected for their expertise and contribution to the martech community. Our contributors work under the supervision of editorial staff and contributions are assessed for quality and relevance to our students. The opinions they express are their own.
