The 4 AI Strategies You Need
We’re currently living in what has been termed the New New Economy (and no, that’s not a typo). It means that the digital landscape and introduction of artificial intelligence have dramatically shifted and globally impacted the way we all do business, differentiating it from the New Economy launched by the dot com era. And when the way we work changes, the specific functions and skills needed to accomplish a new way of doing business must adapt too. Of course, many are interpreting that to mean that AI is taking away jobs, and in some cases, that will be true, but it’s also going to create new jobs—and it’s important to understand that technology will never replace human-centric skills.
In this article, we share four strategies you need surrounding how your organization embraces and integrates (or sometimes even rejects) artificial intelligence.
Key Takeaways
AI is transforming how we work, but it won’t replace human-centric leadership skills like empathy, judgment, and emotional intelligence.
Use AI internally to offload low-payoff, routine work—while keeping human oversight for tasks that require high touch, nuance, or care.
Apply AI externally to create a “WOW” customer experience by anticipating needs and adding value in ways that feel memorable and differentiated.
Build a clear internal and external communication narrative around AI and keep it flexible by revisiting it every 3–6 months.
Invest in learning and development so your people can upskill in AI while strengthening the soft skills that technology can’t replicate.
Strategy 1: Increase internal business efficiencies
As a leader, ask yourself: What low payoff activities can AI handle? Low payoff activities are the tasks that need to get done (often routine) but don’t necessarily make the most of your time. They’re not always high value or your greatest contribution but still need to happen. And when determining your low payoff activities, it’s important to differentiate which tasks still need human oversight against which tasks can be automated. Some tasks can be automated, but shouldn’t—because high touch is needed, and that necessitates human intelligence, connection, or empathy. Your low payoff activities, when delegated to AI, will free you up to spend your time and energy on tasks that really move your business forward. Ask yourself: How could you be a better steward of your time, talent, and resources by leveraging AI in your operations?
Strategy 2: Create a WOW customer experience
How could your organization’s use of AI differentiate you in the marketplace? How could your positive, creative, or unique use of AI cause the external experience of your business to be impressive or memorable? At Building Champions, we like to brainstorm on how we can WOW our clients. To create client WOW means you need to anticipate needs, provide exceptional levels of service, or surprise your clients with added value that they didn’t see coming. You could schedule a brainstorming session for your team (remember, there are no bad ideas) and think through together how AI could help you achieve a WOW customer experience for your brand. What might be possible with AI now that wouldn’t have been before?
Strategy 3: Develop a communication strategy for your AI use
Does your organization have both an internal and public-facing narrative surrounding AI usage? People often connect to story. So, what’s the story being told internally about AI’s current and future organizational use? Are people excited or fearful? What needs to be communicated internally about the expectations surrounding AI? How can your organization embrace it responsibly and pacify any external or internal concerns via clear communication? Information is important. People need to know what’s expected of them and from them so that they can perform at their best and partner with the organization’s digital vision. And don’t hesitate to adjust your strategy as needed but be sure to communicate the adjustments in a timely manner. Technology will continue to evolve, so don’t just set a strategy and feel like you must stick to it. Make it fluid and communicate that fluidity. We recommend revisiting the strategy at least every 3-6 months to allow for digital advancements and the ripple effect that may be created with each change.
Strategy 4: Offer a learning and development strategy to your people
The World Economic Forum predicts that within the next decade there will be 1.1 billion jobs affected by technology and that 86% of organizations will be impacted by 2030. Statistics like that can cause concern for the less tech-savvy individual so it’s important to equip your people to learn, embrace, and grow with advancing technology. Create opportunities for them to upskill and reskill. Include AI training in your learning and development strategy so that no one feels singled out, but all are given access to learn. And remind people of their human-based skills, the ones that AI will never replace, but your organization (and the world) will always need. Encourage people to strengthen their soft skills and continue increasing their emotional intelligence. Human intelligence will always be needed as technology can’t read body language, tone, or vocal inflection; and the best leaders will continue growing their interpersonal skills alongside their digital skills.
Embrace AI with a Healthy Mindset
With the implementation of these four AI strategies, you can lead yourself and your people toward embracing AI with a healthy mindset. Remember, don’t just use AI because it’s what you think you should be doing, but use it intentionally. A good question to ask is: Does this help us better serve our customer or achieve our organizational vision? If the answer is “no,” then don’t use it. Your resources need to be stewarded; don’t just throw money at AI because everyone else is trying it. Be strategic, innovative, and creative with your organization’s embrace of AI—and stay flexible and willing to adjust your strategy as needed.
These four AI strategies will help you get clear on your professional use of AI and also establish clear expectations for your team, organization, and customers. And if you’d like some help crafting your specific strategies, our coaches would love to work with you. Learn more about our individual coaching offerings and schedule a free discovery call today!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the four AI strategies organizations need?
The four AI strategies are: increasing internal business efficiencies, creating a WOW customer experience, developing a communication strategy for AI use, and offering a learning and development strategy to your people.
How can AI increase internal business efficiency?
AI can increase efficiency by handling low-payoff, routine tasks that take time but don’t require your highest value contribution. This frees leaders and teams to focus on work that truly moves the business forward—while maintaining human oversight where needed.
What are “low payoff activities,” and how do I identify them?
Low payoff activities are tasks that must be done but don’t necessarily leverage your unique expertise or create the highest value. You can identify them by looking for routine, repeatable work and then deciding which items can be automated responsibly versus which still require human intelligence and empathy.
Should every company use AI?
Not necessarily. AI should be used intentionally. A helpful filter is: “Does this help us better serve our customer or achieve our organizational vision?” If not, it may be wise to avoid investing in AI until you can positively answer that question.
Why do companies need an AI communication strategy?
Companies need an AI communication strategy because employees and customers often feel uncertainty about how AI will be used. A clear internal and external narrative reduces fear, sets expectations, and builds trust.
How often should an organization revisit its AI strategy?
Organizations should revisit their AI strategy every 3–6 months. AI and the digital landscape evolve quickly, and regular review helps you adjust responsibly and communicate changes clearly.
Why is learning and development important for AI adoption?
Learning and development is important because AI will impact roles and required skills. Training helps people upskill and reskill, increases confidence, and reinforces the human-based skills AI won’t replace—like emotional intelligence and interpersonal connection.
