Chat GPT and other AI exploded onto the world stage almost overnight. Those of us who grew up watching Terminator instantly felt that pang of fear about AI becoming sentient and taking over. Irrational fears? Maybe.
But what is concrete is the impact technology, AI included, is having on us, our associates and our organizations.
As CEOs and senior leaders, we would be remiss if we did not pay attention to what is happening around us. Ask yourself this question: Has technology brought us closer together as people or driven us further apart human to human? Hardly a week goes by that I do not hear about the younger generation and their lack of ability to communicate without a device in their hands. Consider this example and see if you recognize your organization.
We host annual Generation Next Dale Carnegie Courses for teenagers who are all in high school. When the facilitator asks them a question, most will instantly go to their phones and Google the answer.
When did Google become a verb? Contrast that with the 20+ adult professionals that were in a custom course designed just for their industry and their work environment last week who were asked the same question: How would you define leadership?
Unlike the teenagers, they sat and thought about the answer. Then after a few minutes, they started looking at each other, communicating, and coming up with traits of leaders they have known.
The teenagers, on the other hand, had perfect AI driven textbook answers at their fingertips. Do you see tech increasing or decreasing in your organization in the near and/or distant future? That could definitely meet the criteria of an obvious question.
When it comes to human relations and relating to each other as humans, what is the answer, then, if technology seems to be at least part of the problem? Remote work has certainly not helped, but that is a discussion for another article.
The answer is to increase the opportunities for more human interaction within the scope of our associates’ workday. This topic would be an opportune time to get suggestions and feedback from all levels of your organization.
Dale Carnegie says, “People support a world they help create.” Instead of telling what we are doing, let’s ask what we could or should do to provide opportunities for more human interaction. This is starting to sound a lot like engagement, which is a good thing. But that is just the first step.
Our second step is to follow through with the plans and be transparent or else we will be accused of providing the flavor of the day and there will be no impact.
There is a last step to this process that involves helping our associates by providing them skill in dealing with people. While I could tell you the answer, I will let you use your favorite generative AI bot.
Ask Chat GPT or Copilot: “How can I provide human relations skills to my employees?”
John Glaneman is president of Dale Carnegie Training of Northeast Ohio and Western PA
