The ever-evolving landscape of AI offers a raft of opportunities for HR and business leaders, but our survey ‘SuperHuman: AI adoption shaping the future of HR’, highlights that UK HR leaders are more sceptical about its uses than their counterparts in Australia and New Zealand.
For instance, 76% of Australian and New Zealand (ANZ) HR leaders agree AI can help save time and make their job easier, compared with 64% of UK HR leaders. While 66% of ANZ HR leaders are excited about how AI will transform the role of HR compared with just 55% in the UK.
This chimes with a widespread sense of scepticism amongst workforces in the UK in regards to AI. Just over two-fifths (42%) of UK survey participants are worried that their job is at risk due to the fast developments of AI.
Where HR leaders predicted AI tools to have the biggest impact, there were stark differences too with the UK placing a lot more emphasis on recruitment, while ANZ was a little more balanced in their approach but saw learning and development as the major driver.
The use of this all goes a long way with helping teams to upskill themselves. With this in mind, here are some top tips to help HR leaders embrace AI with open arms.
Find what works for you
As a starting point, think through the types of AI-powered tools that can help with common HR tasks like content creation and data analysis. There is probably no need for you to get into creating imagery with Midjourney, so don’t waste hours working out how to use it.
Focus on the data
Being able to familiarise your team with AI and how it can be used in data analysis will help interpret it more effectively. Providing this familiarity will enable you to leverage AI-powered analytics and insights and help create informed strategies for HR initiatives.
Staying informed
What AI can do now and what it can do tomorrow are very different things. Stay up to date with the latest developments and consider how you can leverage the use of AI tools for tasks such as applicant tracking, job posting, and the onboarding process.
Invest in the ‘soft skills’
It should go without saying that in HR and in every business, investing in soft skills such as communication, critical thinking, and empathy are crucial factors in being able to leverage AI, and also mitigate any potential risks that arise within the workforce. Employee engagement and personal growth initiatives must involve a human level of interactions.
Tackle any concerns head-on
It’s completely understandable that organisations may be apprehensive to make use of AI-powered tools for HR. Deal with this early by having an open conversation with your team on the potential benefits and limitations of AI, addressing any concerns head-on.
Being prepared with resources such as Q&As and keeping communication channels open is crucial to drive positive outcomes. It is also worth staying informed of the regulations and industry standards of AI, so that ethical considerations stay at the front of mind.
Having an understanding of how AI can help your teams produce an effective HR strategy bodes well for productivity as a whole, but it’s also important to keep open communication in mind to navigate the AI space.
