Earlier this year, Microsoft launched an early preview of Microsoft 365 Copilot, an AI assistant for knowledge workers. In the months since, tens of thousands of users have incorporated Copilot into their daily workflows. The results reveal an unexpected finding: more seasoned people managers are adapting faster than their junior counterparts.
Microsoft assumed younger employees would take more readily to the new technology. But Jared Spataro, CVP of Modern Work, notes Copilot transforms all users into managers. Realizing its full value requires core management skills: delegating tasks, setting clear expectations, reviewing work, and making decisions. In addition, you can also read an article on- Microsoft’s AI Software Aims to Make Frontline Workers More Productive
In this way Copilot resembles a talented but inexperienced employee. To harness its potential, you need the skills honed from managing others. This includes:
– Decomposing work into discrete assignments
– Briefing assignments with context and parameters
– Evaluating incoming work and providing feedback
– Advancing seamlessly with choices and deliverables
Senior leaders tend to have these techniques down better than junior staff. So readying your organization for generative AI is about strengthening people skills, not tech skills – foundational management and leadership.
Provide training, guides, and leadership opportunities – formal or informal. This will prove essential in the AI era. Those who build these capabilities will reap the benefits.