Executives Warn: Ignoring AI Could Jeopardize Careers
A recent report from Kelly Services highlights a prevailing sentiment among senior executives across various industries: mastering artificial intelligence (AI) competencies is vital for sustained career advancement. However, many employees remain skeptical of this perspective.
According to the findings, a striking 69% of interviewees—senior leaders—assert that neglecting the integration of AI technology poses a greater risk to job security than the technology itself. Furthermore, 59% expressed willingness to replace employees who resist adopting AI tools.
Conversely, only 47% of workers indicated experiencing increased efficiency due to AI, while 32% reported no discernible advantages from its implementation.
This disparity underscores a significant misalignment between executive expectations and employee experiences, as articulated by Chris Layden, CEO of Kelly Services.
“While executives perceive AI as an essential evolution, the workforce appears divided regarding its actual benefits or the threat it may pose to their roles,” Layden remarked.
“Our research reveals that organizations can unlock the full potential of AI only when employees comprehend its relevance to the business, receive adequate training, and develop trust in its advantages.”
Employee apprehensions regarding AI technologies can intensify in the absence of effective leadership communication. According to a Mercer report, cultivating a “leadership vacuum” often exacerbates fears about new technological initiatives.
The report suggests that to ameliorate this divide, organizations should invest in manager training and AI upskilling while fostering a psychologically safe workplace that encourages the acquisition of new skills.
Surveys conducted by Kelly among over 6,000 professionals indicate that executives envision AI tools as facilitators for enhanced collaboration, mentorship, and knowledge transfer.
Nevertheless, 80% of those in leadership roles admitted that the progress of AI implementation has stagnated due to a lack of skills within their teams to utilize these tools effectively.
To harness the complete potential of AI, the Kelly report emphasizes a need for organizations to bridge three pivotal gaps: technology, talent, and trust.
Employees are only likely to realize the full advantages of AI when they understand its significance, trust in its benefits for their personal roles, and receive comprehensive training.
Leaders are encouraged to link AI literacy directly to career progression, address employee concerns through practical demonstrations of AI’s utility, and establish feedback mechanisms that align leadership enthusiasm with employee sentiments.
“Executives should exemplify how they utilize AI in their own responsibilities, nurture a culture that promotes AI-driven problem-solving, and elucidate how AI skill acquisition can enhance both organizational and individual career trajectories,” Layden advised.
Despite 70% of hiring managers indicating that their companies are incorporating AI, a significant portion—over half—acknowledge that inadequate resources exist to train employees in its effective use, according to a study by Express Employment Professionals and Harris Poll.
Prior to investing these resources, employers may first need to quell anxiety surrounding AI and its implications for job security.
This concern is particularly salient as over 40% of companies are reportedly planning to replace positions with AI, notably targeting entry-level and operational roles, as per a Korn Ferry report.
Although such reductions may yield immediate financial benefits, neglecting to nurture this talent pool could precipitate a prolonged leadership crisis for the future.
Source link: Hrdive.com.
