This article was written using the support of the artificial intelligence. Don’t worry, it was just a little. Can you tell where?
If we’ve been successful, the answer to that should be no. That’s because rather than shunning artificial intelligence outright, we’ve harnessed it in service of authentic creativity. AI when wielded with precision, can help shape and celebrate your vision, values, and identity.
At Leaderology, our vision and identity is all about fearless authenticity. We aim to develop leaders and shape organizations to act with conviction in alignment with their purpose and principles. We’re passionate about developing bold strategies for organizational cultures in a way that allows everyone to thrive in the face of challenges and change.
Artificial intelligence is both a challenge and a change. A game changer, no doubt. But it is also only a tool. Like any tool, it can be misused and leveraged for purposes that are less than positive. AI when used without skill and precision generates content that is derivative, meandering, and generally mediocre. Used irresponsibly, it diminishes the authenticity of our organizational voice as well as the creative voices within our teams.
It's important to recognize that if we lean too heavily on AI, the content we'll be creating could be exceptionally inauthentic. Our leadership voice will become too precise, perhaps too scripted, too perfect, and therefore, inauthentic and uninspiring.
Humanity's Greatest Flex: Making Lemonade out of Lemons
Emotional intelligence, understanding nuances, a deep understanding of context and complex situations, making ethical decisions, intuition, and “gut feelings” are just some of human’s innate skills that are difficult to replicate in AI systems. However, the most overlooked flex that humans have over AI, is the “human error.” The ability to be imperfect, to miscalculate, to not be precise, and to simply be forgetful have led to some superb discoveries and innovations. The most widely celebrated human error was made by Alexander Fleming with his accidental discovery of penicillin, the world’s first antibiotic. Fleming revolutionized medicine simply because he left a forgotten petri dish of mold uncovered. There are countless examples of when human errors have led to innovation. Can AI be that serendipitous? Does AI know when to make lemonade out of lemons?
"Cultivating authenticity is the courage to be imperfect, vulnerable, and compassionate in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence." - Brené Brown
In an era where artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly integrated into our professional lives, it's vital to strike a balance that amplifies our human strengths rather than overshadowing them. Flaws and all! By leveraging AI to automate repetitive tasks and streamline processes, we liberate valuable time and energy on our teams to focus on what truly sets us apart: creativity, empathy, critical thinking, serendipitous experimentation, and innovation. We need to embrace AI as a tool that empowers our team members to excel in their roles, allowing them to engage more deeply in meaningful endeavors that require our unique human touch.
It All Boils Down This
Remaining fearlessly authentic in a world shaped by artificial intelligence starts with being honest about the fact that AI is here to stay. It’s not going away, and everyone is going to use it if they haven’t already (they have). As such, the last thing we should be doing is shunning AI out of a misplaced notion that it will render our creativity and labor obsolete. Conversely, we must also resist the temptation to outsource our creativity and leadership to this new technology. The reality is that it’s all about equilibrium. Incorporating AI into your operating procedures means harnessing the efficiency of technology while still maintaining a human touch, which resonates as both authentic and meaningful.
Take up the challenge and recognize that AI is a technology, nothing more. Use it courageously, use it responsibly, use it skillfully, and most of all, use it to enhance the authenticity that makes you great!
