Generative AI is all over the news and we’re on the cusp of a lot of historical change in the workplace. This is a pivotal time for business owners to re-visit key questions about their company under a future-oriented lens. We also need to think about what history can teach us. For example, a lot of wagon makers in the early 20th century went out of business soon after the car came onto the scene because there wasn’t a future in the wagon making industry. Many of these companies made 2 big mistakes: they didn’t innovate fast enough, AND they failed to realize that they weren’t actually in the wagon making industry…they were in the transportation industry.
A simple shift in thinking can change everything. As HR experts, we work with a lot of entrepreneurs to help them align their people with their business goals. In the current economic climate and with the spotlight on how AI is changing the way we think about work, it’s a great time to step back and reflect on where you’re headed.
Here are 6 questions every entrepreneur should be asking about their business right now:
1. Are we in the industry we think we’re in?
2. Who are our clients and what will they need tomorrow? Are we prepared for that?
3. What is our biggest weakness now and in the immediate future? How can we work to close that gap?
4. How can we work smarter but not lose sight of the most meaningful things that make us special and add value?
5. Are we using our most talented people in the best way and who do we need to hire when we think about where we’re headed?
6. What’s keeping our best people around? What do they care about most and how can we retain and develop them?
It’s not a matter of “IF” AI will impact your business, it’s a matter of “how MUCH” it will impact your business. Knowing what you’re good at and what AI is good at are great places to start a meaningful conversation about how you can work smarter, not harder. It’s easier to embrace change before you’re too far behind. Lean in to your own strengths and to what makes you stand out among your competition.
Using AI in the right, strategic way is really important…but it’s equally important for you and your leadership team to thoroughly understand your industry, and where it’s headed in order to make smart, future-oriented decisions. This will help ensure that you continue to add value and remain relevant and necessary to your clients and customers as things continue to evolve.
This is where having a great Human Resources team is critical to ensure that you have the right people in place to support your company’s growth along the way. Our clients are primarily business owners and entrepreneurs. We bring value by helping them ask smart questions and by helping them align their people with their business goals.
Have an HR or people question? Reach out to us by phone if you want to speak to a human, or by email or webchat if you want to start a virtual conversation. We love helping growing companies thrive and we’d love to hear from you!
