For decades, ROI (Return on Investment) has reigned supreme in boardrooms and quarterly reports. It’s clean, it’s measurable, and it makes your CFO smile. But in today’s knowledge economy, where humans + machines = exponential potential, there’s a new sheriff in town:
ROP – Return on People
ROP asks a better question: “Are we equipping our people with the tools and thinking they need to do their best work, every day?”
It’s not about ping-pong tables or motivational posters with eagles. It’s about unleashing productivity by combining human creativity with AI horsepower. When done right, the results speak in metrics even the ROI crowd can love.
So how do you increase ROP in your organization?
Here’s what your employees (and their calendars) will thank you for:
1. AI as Your Assistant, not a Threat
Tools like ChatGPT, Grammarly, or Notion AI are already replacing repetitive thinking with strategic doing. Train employees to use AI to:
- Draft first versions of emails, reports, or client communications.
- Summarize meetings (Otter.ai anyone?) so humans can stay present.
- Brainstorm innovative ideas or test hypotheses – fast.
2. Daily “AI Reps” Build Muscle
Encourage employees to spend 10–15 minutes per day using AI tools. Just like going to the gym, consistency beats intensity. One rep at a time, they’ll start seeing compound gains.
3. From Task-Oriented to Impact-Oriented
As AI takes on busywork, employees can focus on what Jim Collins calls their “Hedgehog Concept” – that sweet spot between passion, skill, and economic value.m That’s where they deliver disproportionate value and a higher level of ROP.
4. Measure What You Actually Want
Don’t just track hours worked or tasks completed. Measure learning velocity, decision quality, and customer outcomes. That’s how you track ROP – and spot your next rockstar.
Spoiler alert, they may not come from your C Suite or Director level teammates. Look for champions of change and AI early adopters in your organization. Recent data shows that younger “lower-level” employees are ahead of those in the C-Suite.
Final Thought:
Machines may calculate ROI, but it’s people who deliver ROP. Invest in them – train them, trust them, and give them tools that multiply their time. Because in the AI age, the smartest investment you can make isn’t just in tech.
It’s in your people!
If you would like to chat about this, let’s connect!