Artificial intelligence, once seen as a future-facing innovation is now a strategic imperative.
This shift is no longer optional.
The operational reality is that most businesses are just now getting ready to board the AI bus. Spoiler alert, “Big Business” is 12-18 months ahead of you on this.
If you’re uncertain about how to integrate AI into your business — you’re not alone. Many executives are asking:
- Where do we begin?
- Which tools are right for our organization?
- How do we ensure it benefits — not disrupts — our teams?
An easy way to start is by grabbing the book “AI Driven Leader”.
Geoff Woods does a nice job laying out a simple framework for companies large and small. Although he leads with strategy, a healthy debate is whether to start here or with the critical “people” piece.
NOTE: There may be more going on with the usage and implementation of AI in your company from individuals (early adopters) who are not necessarily in the C-Suite. Guidance, provide them with a voice in the process and possibly, a seat at the table.
AI is becoming a major performance accelerant driving people, systems, and processes at a pace not seen before. The past analogy on tech was Apollo 1 vs a smartphone. That’s a yawn today.
What should leaders do now?
- Build foundational AI literacy. Start with education. Everyone should understand the potential and limitations of AI. Find out where everyone’s head is in your Company, from bottom to top! Simple step, ask AI what your industry is doing with AI. You might be surprised at the level of detail. (Names of competitors, what tools they are using, etc)
- Start with a focused use case. Identify one area where AI can drive efficiency or insight and pilot a small-scale initiative. Not talking about using AI to draft emails, that was cool with Chat GPT arrived at our doorstep, now it’s not even a baby step.
- Conduct a software audit, what are you using, what are you paying for, what could be replaced with AI?
- Depending on your industry, consider establishing ethical guidelines early. Set standards around data privacy, transparency, and responsible AI use.
The question is no longer “Should we adopt AI?”
It’s “Are we prepared to lead with it?”
If you have questions, contact us!