Artificial

Everyone is talking about AI. They talk about its application to business, healthcare, recreation, and a thousand other things; but mostly they talk about how they fear it. Maybe there is reason to fear the societal impact of AI, but I’m not afraid of, nor am I overly interested in, AI from a business standpoint. The reasons for my indifference are built right into the name:

·        Intelligence: Intelligence is great. I love to read and learn how things work, and I appreciate how AI can cut my research time in half. But knowing more isn’t going to help our businesses; doing more is going to help our businesses. We don’t need to know more about leading and managing, we need to develop real relationships with the people we lead and manage. We don’t need to know more about sales; we need to pick up the phone and connect with people. We don’t need more detailed, elaborate processes; we need to sit down with our teammates, agree on a simple process, and trust them to use their brains to handle the exceptions. Use AI as a tool, but invest in relationships, and the actions that nurture them, to move the needle in your business.

·        Artificial: Noone craves artificial. If we learned anything from COVID, it’s that human beings need connection with other human beings. Your employees and customers don’t need an artificial replica of human connection; they need a real relationship with you. And therein lies the silver lining: if you double down on relationships while everyone else is chasing tech, you’ll stand out in a wonderful, powerful way.

I’m no Luddite. I’m a data nerd that uses tech to drive performance in nearly every aspect of my life. But it’s a tool; a tool that helps us refine and focus our actions. It’s not a substitute for taking simple actions or investing deeply in relationships.

Why do I care enough to write about this? Because I believe in you. I want you to have the best tools at your disposal but it’s you, not the tools, that make the difference. Don’t forget that!

Are you interested in working with someone who believes in you and your team and can help you use simple tools to become your very best? If so, give me a call.