Daria Rudnik, Team Architect & Leadership Coach at Daria Rudnik Coaching & Consulting, Creator of Aidra.AI – an AI coach for Leaders in Tech
Whether we’re ready or not, AI is reshaping industries, workplaces and team dynamics at a rapid pace.
And what does that mean for your team? How do you prepare them to excel in a world where artificial intelligence is becoming a core part of work?
I spoke with the head of customer support at a cloud company. She asked, “How can I prepare my team for the new AI era?” This wasn’t a company where AI had already taken over operations—at least not yet. But they wanted to future-proof their team so they could thrive in a world increasingly shaped by AI.
Personally, I use AI to boost my productivity and support my coaching clients with an AI coach I designed. But teams? That’s a different story. How will AI impact teamwork, not just through technology, but from a human perspective?
The reality is that AI is transforming how teams operate. It automates repetitive tasks, simplifies workflows and provides insights on an unprecedented scale. But these advancements bring equally significant challenges. Teams face two key risks: One is cognitive offloading, where they rely too heavily on AI and disengage mentally. The other is cognitive overload, where the large amounts of AI-generated data become overwhelming.
How do we navigate this?
A Harvard Business Review article highlights that reskilling should be a strategic priority, not a quick fix. Reskilling helps companies fill skill gaps and gain a long-term edge. They are preparing their teams to adapt to the fast-changing demands of AI and automation. This approach shows the need to align workforce development with business goals. It will help keep teams agile and ready for the future.
Here’s how you can prepare your team for the age of AI.
1. Prioritize data literacy.
AI thrives on data, and teams need to be fluent in understanding and interpreting it. This doesn’t mean everyone has to become a data scientist. It’s about developing the ability to ask the right questions, critically assess AI-generated insights and make informed decisions.
Encourage your team to question assumptions. Have them explore data-driven stories and check the reliability of AI outputs. Cultivate curiosity to analyze information generated by AI tools critically. Ask questions to determine the relevance and applicability of AI-generated insights
2. Foster an adaptive learning mindset.
Adaptability isn’t optional anymore—it’s essential. A British Council report ranks learning agility as the most significant skill needed in an AI-driven world. But adaptability isn’t just about being open to change; it’s about proactively embracing new technologies, seeking out knowledge and using feedback to grow.
To nurture this mindset, use a mix of formal training and microlearning that fits into daily workflows. Add buddy programs with experienced AI professionals to encourage continuous improvement. By applying new skills, team members build resilience and contribute to shared knowledge.
3. Redefine collaboration in the AI era.
AI is great at handling routine tasks, but it can’t match the human ability to collaborate or solve complex problems creatively. Teams need to refine how they work together, using AI as a partner. This means breaking down AI insights, analyzing them from different viewpoints and, finally, turning them into practical strategies.
Encourage your team to think critically about AI-generated data. Are the insights reliable? Do they align with organizational values? Foster a collaborative environment where human intuition complements AI capabilities.
4. Strengthen emotional intelligence.
As AI takes on more technical tasks, humans’ emotional and communication skills are more valuable. These skills are crucial for managing team dynamics. They are especially important in hybrid or remote work where it is tough to maintain emotional connections.
Teams with high emotional intelligence are better at navigating stress. They foster collaboration and keep morale high in fast-paced, AI-driven workplaces. Communicate clearly, and use storytelling to turn complex AI insights into steps that resonate with stakeholders. This reduces cognitive overload and also keeps your team engaged and aligned.
5. Build technical intuition.
Finally, teams need to strike a balance between leveraging AI tools and staying actively engaged in their work. Over-automation can lead to complacency, where teams lose touch with underlying processes. This is where teams need technical intuition—not just understanding how to use AI tools, but knowing when to step in and take manual control.
Encourage your team to learn the fundamentals of the technologies they rely on. This isn’t about mastering every detail—it’s about developing a sense of when and how to intervene.
The Path Forward
In the future, teams that master the human-AI relationship will be more successful than those with the best AI technologies. The key lies in maintaining cognitive engagement and intellectual curiosity while leveraging AI’s strengths.
For leaders, the journey begins with small, intentional steps. Foster curiosity, create safe spaces for experimentation and emphasize the human skills that AI can’t replicate. The goal isn’t to replace human thinking with AI but to enhance it.
The future belongs to teams that can harness both human ingenuity and artificial intelligence. By developing these key skills now, you’re not just preparing for AI—you’re creating a stronger, more adaptable team ready to face future challenges.
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