In the context of AI, Analytics and Automation transformations, how to engage our people to ensure a successful outcome for them, and for the overall business?

In my view, these transformations are not primarily technology projects. Before all they are business transformations, and people are in the center of a successful transformation.

To ensure the success of such initiatives, four key actions need to be taken by leadership:

1- Inspire our people: explain the company’s vision, reason why we want to achieve this transformation, why we need to use these new technologies, and what are the expected benefits for people and for the business

2- Educate: teach people how to use the new technology in their day to day work. Focus also on the expected benefits for them. For example, less tedious tasks, access to more insights and possibility to provide more value

3- Engage people in the transformation, so that they own the outcome: make them redesign the processes, get them take any active role in the transformation project

4- Last and most important, provide them with visibility regarding their career. Be transparent and honest on it. Technology helps to reduce people’s workload. We need to be able to explain what does it mean for each of our people. Some will still work in the same department, closely with the new technology. Some others might be redeployed to other functions, be made redundant or trained to new skills

Overall, this type of transformation is an opportunity to continuously coach our people, support them in their professional development, finding their path, update their competencies and acquire a sustainable, flexible skillset.

As humans, all of us need to be able to project ourselves in our future, in order to be confident in it and embrace it.