AI – threat or opportunity?

AI is doing the work of 700 employees at Klarna, in significantly less time. The firm have plans to ‘almost halve their headcount over the coming years’ as it leverages AI. (Source: CIPD 02.09.24) AI is also transforming the ability of many small businesses to move at pace and be more competitive. So in your world of work, is AI an opportunity, a threat, or both?

AI is here to stay, and it is going to eliminate admin and basic tasks from many jobs. And that will be very welcome…. unless it’s your job that’s getting swept away.

In the world of HR and L&D there are some interesting posts and articles citing the benefits of AI e.g. managing Onboarding, dealing with routine HR enquiries and it can even provide you with the opportunity to practice your management conversations with an AI assistant.

Whilst I was reading and reflecting on AI and its application to HR & L&D recently, one of our video shorts was racking up the views on YouTube. It’s somewhat poignant that the video clip in question shows an employee upset and angry at the possibility of another restructure.

His emotions are informed by his previous experience of change within the business, when “he had to apply for his own job and had the humiliation of not getting it.”

We know that managing change is challenging and often fraught. But with AI creating disruption like no other, I think we need managers with the skills to support their teams to navigate these unchartered waters.

Because without these people skills, managers are going to be emotionally drained and potentially burnt out.  And sickness absence is going to skyrocket through the change period.

Let’s maintain the human in human resources.

We are going to need managers with the skills to demonstrate empathy and care over the next months and years as work takes a completely new direction.

Where to start?  Our ECA model (empathy, care, action) provides a clear and simple framework which works!  Embed these 3 elements into your everyday conversations and see the difference it makes.

You can download our pdf explaining the model here: https://resoundtraining.co.uk/eca/

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