Leveraging Gen AI to transform your learning and development programs

Editor’s Note: This is part of a series examining the impact of generative AI on business operations, including creativity, innovation, management, and hybrid and remote working.

The transformative potential of generative AI in learning and development is a topic of growing interest among business leaders. And if you think your workers aren’t using generative AI, you might be seriously off-base.

According to a global study of 14,000 workers in late 2023 by Salesforce, 28% of workers were using generative AI at work by that time, with more than half doing so without formal approval. A 2023 McKinsey report had similar findings. Undoubtedly, the numbers are now even higher.

Instead of focusing on a centralized command and control approach, recognizing and leveraging these early adopters can provide a strategic advantage, helping to integrate generative AI effectively into your company’s learning and development programs to boost both effectiveness and efficiency.

Indeed, a recent study from Harvard Business School researchers partnering with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) provides robust evidence of AI’s transformative potential, showing that consultants with access to Gen AI completed tasks 22% faster and 40% better than those who did not. So how do you get similar benefits?

Find your hidden generative AI pioneers

Conduct an internal survey to identify who uses generative AI and how they use it. Ask questions focusing on the types of tools employees use, the frequency of use, and specific applications within their work. For instance, do they use AI for data analysis, content generation, or automating routine tasks? These details help map the current landscape of Gen AI usage within your organization.

Reassure employees that it’s okay to use generative AI in their work, even without a formal policy. Clearly communicate that your goal is to learn from their experiences, not to penalize them. Incentivize participation by offering rewards such as recognition, bonuses or professional development opportunities. This approach alleviates fears and encourages honest and comprehensive responses.

Identify individuals who use generative AI effectively and creatively once you analyze the survey results. These informal leaders possess valuable insights into the practical applications of Gen AI and can offer firsthand knowledge about the challenges and benefits of these tools.

Developing best practices from generative AI pioneers

Harness the expertise of your generative AI pioneers to develop best practices tailored to your organizational context. Create a collaborative environment where these early adopters share their experiences and insights.

Form a task force comprising your identified pioneers, learning and development professionals, and IT specialists. This group will develop guidelines and best practices for using generative AI within the company. Hold regular meetings and workshops to facilitate knowledge exchange and collaboration.

Pilot these best practices within a small, controlled group before rolling out new generative AI tools company-wide. Use this phase to gather feedback, refine the guidelines, and address any unforeseen challenges. Pilot programs allow for adjustments and ensure the final practices are robust and practical.

Document the refined best practices in a clear and accessible manner. Create comprehensive guides, FAQs and video tutorials that employees can easily access. Leverage your company’s intranet or a learning and development platform to distribute these resources effectively.

Integrating generative AI pioneers into organizational learning

Embedding generative AI knowledge into your organization’s learning and development programs can ensure that all employees benefit from the pioneers’ expertise as well as align its use with your company’s strategic goals.

First, incorporate generative AI modules into existing training programs. Cover the basics of generative AI, its applications, and the specific best practices developed by your task force. Offer both online courses and in-person workshops to cater to different learning preferences.

More broadly, establish a culture that encourages ongoing education and skill development to keep up with the rapid pace of AI development.

Regularly update training materials to reflect the latest advancements and provide opportunities for employees to attend conferences, webinars and other learning events.

As part of doing so, promote a culture of peer learning where employees share their experiences and tips. Facilitate this through internal forums, lunch-and-learn sessions, and mentoring programs. Recognize and reward employees who add to this knowledge-sharing culture and motivate participation.

Successful ways to build generative AI learning and development programs

By pairing employees with successful early adopters to facilitate knowledge sharing and skill development, leaders can build stronger professional relationships and foster a collaborative learning environment. Peer mentoring encourages employees to learn from each other’s experiences, providing practical insights and real-world applications of generative AI.

For instance, one of my clients, a mid-size tech company, paired early adopter employees with colleagues, covering diverse generative AI topics from coding to content creation to prompting. This enhanced collaboration and knowledge exchange across teams, increasing employee confidence in using AI tools and leading to higher productivity and innovation.

Hosting hands-on workshops and seminars to provide in-depth training on AI tools and techniques can encourage the practical application of learned skills by incorporating real-world scenarios and interactive exercises. For example, another client, a regional insurance company, organized regular workshops on generative AI implementation, focusing on practical applications relevant to their industry.

Participants gained hands-on experience with AI tools, learning how to integrate them into their daily workflows. These workshops improved individual and team efficiency and sparked new ideas for leveraging AI to enhance customer service and streamline operations.

One way to facilitate learning is to break down complex generative AI topics into short, focused lessons using videos, quizzes and interactive content to allow employees to learn at their own pace. A regional financial services company I worked with offered microlearning courses in generative AI, providing flexible learning paths tailored to individual needs.

Employees could access lessons on-demand, increasing engagement and participation in training programs. The microlearning modules covered a wide range of topics, from basic AI principles to advanced data analysis techniques, resulting in improved employee skills and productivity.

Finally, incorporating game elements into training programs can create competitive and collaborative learning experiences by rewarding progress with certificates and other incentives. Another client, a large professional services firm, introduced gamified training for generative AI skills, incorporating elements such as points for completed modules, leaderboards to track progress and badges for milestones achieved.

This approach significantly improved engagement and course completion rates. Employees found the gamified elements motivating and enjoyable, leading to higher participation and retention of skills. The competitive aspect encouraged employees to strive for excellence, while the collaborative features facilitated teamwork and knowledge sharing, resulting in a marked increase in the practical application of generative AI skills across the organization.

It is essential to track learning progress and outcomes, use data to personalize learning experiences and encourage a growth mindset among employees. Recognizing and rewarding learning achievements, aligning initiatives with organizational goals and engaging leadership in promoting a learning culture are crucial.

By integrating generative AI into your company’s learning and development, you can harness internal expertise to drive innovation and efficiency. The untapped potential of your workforce is the key to staying ahead in the evolving Gen AI landscape, and the time to act is now.

The information and opinions presented are the author’s own, and not those of Vistage Worldwide, Inc.

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