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How to Create a People Strategy for AI: The Competitive Edge Your Organisation Needs

Emotional Intelligence - your hidden superpower.

2024 is the year organisations truly began using and deriving business value from artificial intelligence (AI). By May 2024, 65 per cent of organisations were regularly using gen AI, according to McKinsey, nearly double the percentage from just ten months prior. As AI rapidly evolves, many leaders are focusing on policies around privacy, security, and appropriate use. From ChatGPT to Microsoft’s Co-Pilot and Google's Gemini, businesses are integrating AI tools into their workflows. However, while governance is critical, there's an even larger gap that few are addressing: developing a people strategy so employees are using AI effectively and consistently across the organisation.


This was touched on at the recent AICD Essential Director update. Those organisations that invest in developing an AI people strategy across their workforce will be the ones that seize the advantage. Executed well it can reap the benefits of embracing AI, boosting productivity, and highlighting the uniquely human skills AI can’t replicate.


Why developing an AI people strategy is a game-changer


According to a report by PwC, released back in January 2024, 60% of executives believed AI would have a significant impact on their business, yet only 22% felt their teams were ready to adopt AI technology effectively. Among CEOs whose companies had broadly adopted generative AI, for example, 84% believed it would increase efficiency in their employees' time at work during 2024. 


This gap presents a major opportunity for organisations to not only adopt AI tools but also to equip their workforce with the skills to use them in innovative ways.


Training your teams to become proficient in AI will enable them to automate routine tasks, analyse data faster, and make informed decisions. But without proper guidance, AI tools can be underutilised, leaving your business lagging behind competitors who have embraced the technology fully.


Practical steps to develop your AI people strategy


1. Assess your current AI capabilities & develop a literacy program


Before diving into AI training, assess where your organisation currently stands. How familiar are your employees with AI tools? What tools are being used, and to what extent? This baseline assessment will help you identify gaps and focus on specific areas for development. 


AI training shouldn't just be about mastering new software. Equip your team with an understanding of what AI can and can’t do. Introduce AI fundamentals that cover topics like machine learning, automation, and ethical considerations in AI use. There are several free online courses you can take, starting with the various listed here from top tech firms and universities. 


2. Tailor AI use for different business areas


Each team will use AI differently. For example, your people and culture team may rely on AI for talent acquisition and employee engagement analytics, while your sales team may use AI to forecast demand or optimise pricing strategies. Tailor your AI training to the specific needs of each department, showing them how AI can solve their particular pain points. 


Without a cohesive strategy, AI adoption will occur on an individual basis, leading to inconsistent approaches across your organisation. In the future, attempting to implement a department-led, organisation-wide AI initiative may face resistance due to the lack of a proactive, unified approach from the outset.


3. Promote human-AI collaboration   


AI is powerful, but it’s not infallible. Your people strategy should emphasise how AI tools can enhance, not replace, human judgment. Encourage your employees to see AI as a collaborator who handles repetitive tasks, freeing them to focus on creative problem-solving and interpersonal communication skills that AI cannot replicate. 


The World Economic Forum recognises that analytical thinking, creative thinking, leadership, social influence, curiosity and lifelong learning are crucial skills in jobs of the future. An integral part of your AI people strategy is ensuring you help your employees develop these skills. Those who know how to apply these human skills as they increasingly adopt and use AI will leap ahead of others who cannot apply a critical thinking lens to their use of AI.


4. Embrace a growth mindset


Encourage your teams to embrace adaptability and continuous learning. AI technology evolves rapidly, and so will its applications in your business. An agile mindset, combined with regular upskilling, ensures that your people can keep pace with AI innovations and identify new opportunities for AI integration. It’s about staying flexible, experimenting, and being open to ideas and challenges as technology evolves.


5. Prioritise ethical AI use


Part of your AI people strategy needs to include clear ethical guidelines on how AI will be implemented within your organisation. Ensure that AI tools are used responsibly, with transparency in how data is collected, managed, and applied. This builds trust among your employees and customers while protecting your organisation from potential reputational risks. Prioritising ethical AI practices also develops a culture of accountability and fairness. 

 

Real-life AI strategy example: Accenture


Accenture, the global consulting firm, is an example of an organisation that has proactively upskilled its workforce in AI. It has heavily invested in AI, including spending over $1Billion US annually in employee training and acquiring Udacity. Additionally, through LearnVantage, it has made a significant commitment to upskilling the workforce in AI and technology skills. 


Not every organisation has Accenture’s resources to put into their AI people strategy but by using the ideas in this article and reflecting on the references in the links you can develop your own AI people strategy to suit the resources of your organisation. If the goal is to be in the top 10% of your market, acting on this now will keep you ahead of the curve. 


Creating a people-centric AI strategy: final thoughts


Leaders must not only think about AI in terms of technology but also in terms of people. The most successful organisations in the AI-driven future will be those that prioritise developing their teams to work alongside AI, harnessing the power of human skills in tandem with technology.


Here’s what to keep in mind as you create your AI people strategy:


- Focus on AI literacy across all levels

- Tailor use to business area-specific needs

- Emphasise human-AI collaboration and the critical human skills that AI can’t replicate

- Embrace a growth mindset and

- Prioritise ethical AI use.


AI isn’t just a technical tool—it’s a strategic asset that, when used effectively, can transform your organisation. The companies that develop their AI people strategy now will be the ones setting the competitive pace in the future.

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Author of ‘Meaningful Work: Unlock Your Unique Path to Career Fulfilment’, Nina Mapson Bone is a people strategist, consultant, chair and keynote speaker. She consults with boards, CEOs, founders and executives on bridging the disconnect between strategy and the needs, motivations and capabilities of their people. Nina’s executive career has spanned three continents and diverse sectors. She was previously the Managing Director of Beaumont People, where she led a period of significant growth for the organisation, during which it was recognised with multiple awards. For more information visit www.nmbpeoplestrategy.com.au

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NMB People Strategy acknowledges Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing  connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present. 

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