AI has become a top priority for many CEOs, with IBM reporting that 66% of them are facing pressure from board members to expedite AI adoption, largely driven by the potential productivity gains associated with AI. In this article, we outline the essential elements for crafting an AI upskilling strategy aimed at increasing team productivity.
AI adoption is happening fast, and brings many opportunities
It’s easy to understand why CEOs are in a hurry to accelerate AI adoption. A study conducted by Microsoft reveals that for every $1 invested in AI, companies are experiencing an average return of $3.50.
According to McKinsey, Generative AI has the potential to automate up to 70% of business activities across nearly all occupations by 2030, resulting in the addition of trillions of dollars in value to the global economy.
Professionals are eager to receive training
Professionals are quickly realizing how AI can streamline their work, especially with repetitive tasks, and its usage has doubled in the last 6 months.
But is this usage being done in the best way? Some data indicates that workers are eager to receive training and orientation on how to use AI to improve their work performance:
- Although 64% of leaders believe that employees possess a strong grasp of AI, only 34% of employees stated that they have a comprehensive understanding of AI and its practical applications in the workplace
- 67% of employees say they receive less training on AI than they desire, and 71% want to understand AI’s impact on their roles
- 63% of employees surveyed in this research perceive AI as intimidating due to its complexity and 61% believe they could benefit from receiving training on how to effectively use AI in the workplace.
L&D taking the lead
Although people already have some understanding of how generative AI can enhance productivity, this learning curve can be accelerated with L&D guiding the way and fostering the necessary skills.
Companies that direct employee AI experimentation into a deliberate strategy aimed at driving bottom-line impact will gain a competitive edge. As an L&D professional, you are in the best position to lead your organization in seizing this opportunity.
Talent development teams must guide their organizations in adopting a strategic, personalized and responsible approach to learning AI skills at all levels.
There is significant potential for taking the lead with corporate education initiatives: research shows that only 3 in 10 (29%) organizations using AI have proactively upskilled their employees to work with AI technologies.
A strategy to train and develop the workforce to make the best use of AI needs a holistic approach, addressing not only the necessary hard skills but also the soft skills and mindset required for a productive partnership between AI and the worker.
This research conducted with HR professionals on the use of AI in the workplace showed that providing adequate training is the factor they believe will have the greatest impact in leveraging the opportunities brought by AI.
What to consider when crafting a AI upskilling strategy for more productivity
It all starts with an assessment
The key to leveraging AI’s potential for increased productivity lies in a well-defined training strategy. But where do you begin? With a thorough assessment.
Research and analyze how your employees currently interact with gen AI. This could involve anything from writing emails to writing code. Next, review your existing workflows to identify repetitive or data-intensive tasks that could be made with the help of gen AI.
With this foundation in place, you can start building your AI upskilling strategy. Define a skills roadmap, identifying both near-term and long-term capabilities needed for your team to seamlessly integrate AI into their work routines.
How does it connect to the broader goals?
Don’t develop your strategy in isolation. Partnering with department leaders to get their real-world understanding of departmental needs will help you tailor training to address specific workflows and job roles associated with a bigger return on investment (ROI).
Defining the scope of your AI upskilling strategy
When outlining the scope of your training program, consider the different perspectives you want to address, such as:
- Basic AI for all: Even though many people are already using it, a fundamental understanding of AI is essential to getting everyone on the same page. This introductory training equips all employees with a general understanding of AI’s capabilities and limitations.
- Departmental specialization: Beyond the basics, consider specialized training for specific departments. Imagine “Gen AI for Sales” or “Gen AI for Customer Service,” tailoring the training to leverage AI for department-specific workflows.
- AI for productivity: Focus on boosting efficiency by training employees on using AI to automate repetitive tasks. This can include anything from data analysis to scheduling, freeing up valuable time for more strategic work.
Set expectations
The use of AI in the workplace excites many people—73% of respondents in a Workday survey reported feeling optimistic about it—while others view the exponential growth of AI as a threat.
Balance these expectations and help employees respond positively to automation by fostering a sense of control at work.
Some ways to achieve this include managers involving employees in decision-making around AI and highlighting opportunities for professional development.
To prepare workers and address global digital and skills shortages in the medium to long term, it is crucial to emphasize technology skills in education.
By openly discussing the impact of automation, you empower your workforce to develop a realistic understanding of how AI will affect their specific jobs and industry.
Include the topic of AI in other training programs
To create an open mindset to pursue ideas for how generative AI can make work more productive, include the topic of AI in other training programs.
An example: within the Voxy platform there are specific lessons about the potential of AI that can be recommended to people participating in other upskilling programs.
How can teams collaborate?
Collaboration is key—often, the best ideas for using AI emerge when people from different parts of the company work together.
Create a process for people to document and share the most effective prompts and practices, enabling everyone to learn from their colleagues and adopt best practices across the organization.
Soft skills training
The use of generative AI is a hard skill that requires intensive use of soft skills. According to Deloitte’s estimate, by 2030, two-thirds of all job positions will require intensive use of soft skills.
In another recent survey, 3 in 4 HR professionals agreed that advancements in AI will increase the importance of human intelligence in the workplace over the next five years.
Much of the quality of generative AI use in the workplace depends on being able to explain the task needed via prompts. In other words, the quality of the questions defines the quality of the outcomes.
Therefore, a good AI strategy also takes into account training in soft skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, communication and cultural knowledge.
Ethical and responsible use of AI
Tackling AI responsibly is key to maximizing its benefits while minimizing risks. AI should be used to enhance productivity, streamline processes, and drive innovation, always ensuring that its use is ethical, and avoiding misuse that could lead to unintended consequences or harm.
According to a recent Boston Consulting Group report, 79% of respondents support AI regulation, underscoring the importance of a responsible AI program.
Some elements to consider when setting your guidelines for responsible generative AI use:
- Bias mitigation: identify and reduce biases in AI models for fair outcomes.
- Data privacy, security and compliance with laws.
- Transparency and explainability: understandable and transparent for users and stakeholders.
- Human oversight: maintain human control over AI systems, especially in critical decisions.
- Accountability and governance: define roles and create structures for AI oversight and issue resolution.
- Aligning with company values and regulations.
Result tracking
Measuring the effectiveness of your upskilling strategy for generative AI can be multifaceted, involving both qualitative and quantitative metrics.
Some ways you can do that:
- Pre and post-training assessments like knowledge tests and quizzes
- Tracking productivity metrics like task completion time and output quality
- Analyze employee performance data to see if there’s an improvement after upskilling
- Gather qualitative data through surveys, interviews, and focus groups
- Monitor engagement with AI tools (e.g., login frequency, tool usage statistics)
- Measure ROI comparing the costs of your training program to the financial gains from increased productivity
Put your upskilling into practice too using AI to generate questions for your quiz. See here for prompt ideas specifically designed for L&D professionals.
Final Thoughts
In the rapidly evolving landscape of AI adoption, the synergy between human intelligence and generative AI presents an unparalleled opportunity for businesses to enhance productivity and drive results. However, unlocking this potential requires more than just technological prowess—it demands a strategic alignment with business goals and a conscious effort to integrate AI seamlessly into workflows.
As organizations navigate the complexities of AI integration, it’s crucial to recognize that the human element remains indispensable.
By fostering a culture that values continuous learning and empowers employees to leverage AI effectively, businesses can harness the full power of generative AI while preserving the unique capabilities of human creativity and intuition.
At Voxy, your team improves communication for superior performance in the global market, learning faster than traditional methods and using real-world business content, such as lessons on how to use generative AI for more productivity at work. Click here to schedule a conversation and assess your needs.
