by Brent W. Hubby, on Feb 22, 2024 8:17:00 AM
In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands at the forefront, reshaping the way we live, work, and interact with the world. From intelligent virtual assistants that understand our natural language to cutting-edge algorithms that decipher complex patterns, AI is becoming a common tool within the workplace.
As organizations integrate AI tools like ChatGPT into their operations, the varying degrees of receptivity among employees become apparent. Some individuals readily embrace the change, recognizing the potential for increased efficiency and improved workflows. These early adopters often possess a tech-savvy mindset, a curiosity about emerging technologies, and a willingness to adapt to new ways of working. On the other hand, there are those who may exhibit reluctance or apprehension towards AI, driven by concerns related to job security, the fear of displacement, or a lack of familiarity with these advanced technologies.
Let’s explore how an individual’s cornerstone behavioral traits, decision-making style, and energy measures identified through ProScan most likely indicate their receptivity to adopting AI tools.
How Cornerstone Behavioral Traits Relate to AI Tool Adoption
The PDP People Management System is designed around four cornerstone behavioral traits: Dominance, Extroversion, Pace, and Conformity. When hypothesizing whether an employee will be particularly open to accepting AI within their work processes, we can look specifically to Pace and Conformity as the main influences.
The Pace Trait and AI
We describe Pace as the Rate of Motion/Adaptability Trait, which indicates how an employee thrives in varying-pace environments.
If someone has high Pace, it means they prefer stability, dislike change, and are very deliberate. They embrace routines and are methodical. An employee with high Pace might resist, or at least exercise great caution to, AI tools because they disrupt how things have historically been done.
Low Pace indicates that someone enjoys fast-paced environments and is drawn to innovation. When changes or disruptions occur, low Pace employees take it in stride, which complements their dynamic nature. Since AI is new and “exciting,” low Pace employees are likely to find it a very positive tool.
The Conformity Trait and AI
The Conformity behavioral trait relates to how closely an individual follows and maintains established systems and procedures. It’s also known as the Systems/Quality Assurance Trait.
A high Conformity person inherently follows rules, pays attention to detail, and scrutinizes new ideas. Therefore, it’s safe to assume that someone with high Conformity would be unlikely to adopt AI at first. Only after risks have been addressed, clear procedures have been crafted, and the AI has been proven very beneficial will they be more receptive to incorporating AI into their role.
Low Conformity can be described as someone who is highly independent, enjoys taking risks, and resists authority. The adage “rules are meant to be broken” applies to low Conformity people. So, given that AI is in its infancy and doesn’t have set rules associated with it yet, low Conformity individuals are probably fascinated by the newness and novelty of AI.
How Decision-Making Style Relates to AI Tool Adoption
There are three main ways in which someone processes information and makes a decision. An individual can be fact-focused, intuition-focused, or a balance of both fact and intuition.
An employee who uses Fact to make decisions is analytical, appreciates documented data, and is skeptical about decisions made without proof. Because AI is a new invention without any historical information to analyze, it would be difficult for a fact-based person to accept its usage. Plus, there are still many known issues with AI at this point in time, such as AI creating incorrect and biased statements.
Intuitive decision-making indicates that an individual relies on an inner sense versus facts for guidance. They apply a mental recording of past experiences to current situations as a basis for direction. An intuitive-style employee may or may not accept AI into their routines, depending on their unique background and previous technology exposure.
How Energy Style Relates to AI Tool Adoption
An Energy Style describes how an individual approaches tasks or accomplishes a goal. There are three types of Energy Styles that ProScan measures, and someone may exhibit more than one: Thrust, Allegiance, and Ste-Nacity.
The Thrust style is similar to a rocket that launches into a project or task! This individual is highly inner-directed and self-starting. They could be very motivated to explore AI’s capabilities as long as they’re interested in it.
The Allegiance style person does not self-start as much as the Thrust style, instead maintaining a reliable and dedicated follow-through to complete projects fully—particularly if it benefits the team or organization. If a manager proposes an AI-related initiative, an Allegiant-style employee will operate on the direction and finish the project.
Ste-nacity is a combination of both Thrust and Allegiance. The individual is like a train that self-starts and also sees the project through to the end destination. Because of their versatility, an employee with a Ste-nacity style would be completely capable and more willing to adopt AI than others.
Invest in Your Company's Greatest Asset: Its People
While Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful tool, it is essential to underscore that it operates most effectively when complemented by the human touch. AI excels in automating repetitive tasks, processing vast datasets, and providing insights at unprecedented speeds. However, the nuanced qualities of human intuition, creativity, and emotional intelligence remain unparalleled. The symbiotic relationship between AI and human expertise is where true innovation and success lie. People, with their ability to navigate complex ethical considerations, exercise judgment, and bring a unique perspective, are undeniably a company's greatest asset.
The future of productivity and innovation lies not in the exclusion of humans by machines but in a harmonious collaboration, leveraging the strengths of both to create a more dynamic and successful work environment. Enable your employees to succeed with the proven people management system that improves communication, understanding, and trust. Use ProScan to identify and foster the innate strengths of each employee in your workforce today.
