2024 is set to be a pivotal year for HR professionals, primed for transformation and adaptation to the new world in which we find ourselves as it relates to work and team dynamics, says Mel Miller.
With the explosive growth of generative AI, tools like ChatGPT and those created specifically for HR teams will gain a significant foothold.
The timing is great because, as teams strive to accomplish more with fewer resources, amplifying processes such as feedback collection and performance reviews will free up HR leaders time.
AI technology has made and will continue to make a significant impact on the way we work, and the highest-performing teams will adapt and find ways to empower their teams to use it responsibly.
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The New Frontier
Many organisations have already implemented AI into their daily workflows. It’s an exciting time for teams across organisations, and an opportunity for HR managers to embrace new tools that will undoubtedly change the way we work for years to come. In 2024, many people teams will be creating guidelines – around how to put the tools into action effectively, decide and train on best practices, and establish privacy and safety protocols. All while also implementing what they can to stay ahead of the curve. Nothing like building the car while driving!
Limited regulations around generative AI use make it especially important for HR teams to become fluent in what tools exist, and to clearly define usage in the workplace. Investing time and resources upfront to ensure best practices is imperative, and can prevent future bureaucratic challenges. Establishing safeguards will enable employees to more seamlessly integrate AI into their daily tasks. Done well, this will then help businesses perform, employees succeed, and society benefit from a more productive, engaged, and stable workforce.
Gen Z and Generative AI: Shaping Tomorrow’s Workplace
While new tech can be hard to navigate, it’s essential to connect with and meet the needs of digital natives. Gen Z employees will account for a quarter of the population by 2025 and, according to a survey by Deloitte, 37 percent of them predict that AI will be the most notable workplace shift within the next 10 years.
Gen Z has benefited from technological advancements in how they learn, communicate, collaborate, and grow in their lives and careers. They are already practiced in applied AI, whether using ChapGPT, Grammarly, or any number of tools that have grown in popularity in the last year. HR leaders should get ahead with guardrails to ensure smooth adoption, with appropriate permissions. Used well, generative AI can help ease connection across roles and cohorts in the workplace, so leaders should embrace this change with open arms (and clear rules). The main point to understand here is that workers will be using AI with or without company/HR permission. The best HR can do is adopt smart AI to help their workforce with safe guardrails.
The Power of Feedback
After three full years of rapid change in the workplace, employees’ desire for connection, collaboration and communication is at an all-time high – and feedback lands at the top of the list for what people crave in their jobs.
In fact, according to professional services firm PwC, nearly 60 percent of employees surveyed said they would like feedback more regularly – on a daily or weekly basis, rather than the few times a year that traditional performance reviews provide.
AI can play a huge role in helping teams give and receive thoughtful, quality and continuous feedback, improving team productivity and increasing employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention.
Ideally what will emerge from weaving purpose-built generative AI tools into HR workflows is the ability to provide more regular, specific, and effective feedback, that in turn helps employees elevate their skills, performance, and personal growth. Low performers and toxic behavior won’t be a surprise, and managers will be able to identify and address issues efficiently, ensuring a harmonious and productive work environment without the wasted time of cumbersome systems.
Embracing AI Transformation
2024 will be a historically transformative year for HR professionals. The pandemic-era rate of change hasn’t slowed, and the rapid expansion of AI tools will accelerate things further – and teams that don’t get on board will get left behind. It will be a year of boundless opportunity for HR departments, and with the right planning, implementation, guardrails, and understanding of employees’ needs, AI tools have the power to improve overall team productivity, job satisfaction, and the bottom line. The stage is set for a historic year of innovation and progress in HR. Hop on.
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Mel Miller is the co-founder of Tandem.
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.
- Amelia Brand
- Amelia Brand
- Amelia Brand
- Amelia Brand
