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Key Takeaways Leaders must break the silence on AI integration to maintain trust and morale among team members.
Transparent communication about the use of AI and potential job shifts is crucial to reduce anxiety and promote a culture of openness.
Avoiding difficult conversations threatens not only team dynamics but also the very art of effective leadership.
There’s a looming threat in the workplace. One that has teams on edge, second-guessing every move and overanalyzing every email. Massive swathes of organizations have been cut and replaced by artificial intelligence (AI). Positions that were once seen as indispensable are now obsolete, and team members are watching leadership to see if, when and how AI will be moving into the organization.
But leaders have become silent as they, too, are unsure of the next move. And as they navigate the ever-changing global landscape amid shifting uncertainty, the instinct to remain silent and wait is natural. It’s what animals do in the wild when there’s trouble afoot. But it’s not a good move if you’re a leader.
Related: Bias Isn’t Always Bad — Here’s How It Can Protect You From Making Dangerous AI-Driven Decisions
Now’s not the time for silence
Anxious teams are edgy teams — when fear and uncertainty dominate, tension rises, communication falters and collaboration breaks down. Anxiety impacts morale and seeps into every decision, stifling innovation and halting progress. The very real fear of becoming obsolete (FOBO) is running rampant in organizations with overly cautious leadership.
When leaders avoid difficult conversations, fail to address current fears even in the face of uncertainty and shy away from answering anxious questions (especially unasked ones), teams become filled with self-doubt. Even if you, as a leader, are not sure what to say or don’t know how to address fears of AI seeping into the workplace, it’s a conversation that has to be had. It’s also one that needs to be openly transparent and ongoing.
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