Transform Roles, Tasks, and Workforce Development by partnering with AI
Welcome to the age of adaptive development—a new era where AI transforms not only how we work but how we learn and grow in our roles. The world is changing and growing faster than ever before, and it’s critical that we adapt faster to a new way of working. For years, HR professionals and business leaders have been grappling with how to best support employees in their development journey. Today, AI offers a solution that could shorten the path to mastery for both employees and managers, enabling them to focus more on human tasks, creativity, and impactful work rather than the drudgery of repetitive tasks.
Many employees today experience FOBO—fear of being obsolete. It’s an anxiety rooted in the rapidly changing landscape of work where new tools, technologies, and methodologies seem to appear overnight. The fear is understandable, but the solution isn’t to resist these changes. Instead, it's about embracing the opportunities they bring. AI is not here to replace jobs; it’s here to transform them.
We must shift our thinking from seeing jobs as static titles to seeing them as a dynamic collection of tasks. When you break it down, a job is just a series of tasks that you apply skills to, to drive an outcome. In this context, AI can play a pivotal role by automating routine tasks, freeing up time and mental energy for more meaningful, human-centric work. Imagine a manager who spends less time buried under administrative work and more time mentoring their team, strategizing, or nurturing client relationships. AI makes this possible by taking over the mundane, giving rise to a more engaged and proactive workforce.
One of the most significant impacts of AI is on entry-level jobs. Traditionally, these roles have been bogged down with repetitive, low-skill tasks that offer little room for growth or innovation. But AI is moving entry-level jobs from the basement to the lobby. In other words, it's elevating these roles to be more strategic, creative, and impactful from the get-go. When we leverage AI tools, entry-level employees can focus on higher-order thinking and problem-solving right away, shortening the time it takes to contribute meaningfully to their teams and organizations.
Of course, using AI effectively requires a mindset shift. It's not going to be perfect from day one—you just need to start. Then, as you use these tools, you'll see what needs to be changed. It's about continuous learning, experimenting, and iterating. Some employees will naturally excel with AI tools, while others might need more time to adapt and learn. That’s okay! The goal isn’t perfection; it's progress.
Leaders need to model these behaviors. What can you and your leaders do to do this? You show your people that you’re learning and experimenting alongside them. Keep it relatable—talk about how you use AI to streamline your job and the specific ways it's helped you grow. This openness fosters a culture where learning and adaptation are not just encouraged but expected.
It can be easy to look at bigger orgs with more resources and think they must have a better AI strategy since they have so much more power (and money) behind everything they do. However, small to medium-sized companies have a unique advantage when it comes to integrating AI. These companies are nimble—they can pivot, adapt, and inject AI into various roles and tasks in a "building block" way. Instead of facing the massive inertia that larger organizations might struggle with, smaller companies can leapfrog ahead, quickly reaping the benefits of AI without the bureaucratic slowdown.
So, what does this all mean for HR professionals and forward-thinking leaders? It means we need to be proactive about incorporating AI into our development strategies. We must look beyond the fear of being obsolete and see AI as a partner in growth, not a threat to it. AI can help us build more adaptive, resilient, and engaged workforces by taking over the mundane and letting humans do what they do best—connect, create, and innovate.
In the age of adaptive development, the organizations that thrive will be those that embrace AI, not as a replacement for human intelligence but as a catalyst for unlocking its full potential. Let’s lead the way.
