Unlock Gen AI's Full Potential: 4 Innovative Ways to Start Using It

Generative AI's ability to process data, generate code, craft narratives, and analyze situations is well-documented. However, its potential as a creative partner for brainstorming and idea generation is still unfolding.

According to a survey conducted by Capgemini, only about 15% of the 1,400 managers polled actively use AI in their daily work. This insight comes from Elisa Farri and Gabriele Rosani of Capgemini Invent's Management Lab, as detailed in their book, "HBR Guide to Generative AI for Managers." Many managers remain unaware of how generative AI can assist in leadership, ideation, and management tasks.

When used as a *co-pilot*, generative AI can efficiently manage a variety of administrative, communication, and operational tasks, turning it into a reliable collaborator. As a *co-thinker*, it evolves into a thought partner, engaging in discussions, offering new perspectives, and challenging existing assumptions or ideas.

Key Ways Generative AI Can Assist at Work

1. Enhancing Self-Management Tasks

AI's potential to boost personal productivity is significant, both as a co-pilot and a co-thinker. As a co-pilot, AI can handle routine tasks such as managing emails or summarizing documents. As a co-thinker, it can deepen self-reflection and thinking, helping you review feedback, identify areas for improvement, and take action for personal growth.

2. Facilitating Persuasive Communication

As a co-thinker, AI can greatly enhance the preparation of speeches or pitches. Start by using AI to reflect on your audience, conceptualize the overall story, identify key messages, and structure an outline. It can then help co-create a first draft that aligns with your personal style. Additionally, AI can analyze past performances, provide feedback on delivery, tone, and body language, and engage in simulations for skill improvement. It can also assist in preparing for job interviews by reflecting on your strengths, anticipating objections, and aiding in rehearsals.

3. Leading Teams

As a co-pilot, AI can manage basic meeting requirements, from scheduling to team composition. It can also generate ideas to propel projects forward. For instance, you could ask generative AI for "two to three good questions to ask a colleague expert," or to "create a 120-minute workshop agenda in a table format with headings for agenda point, title, questions to answer, and time allocation." AI can help organize and structure teamwork based on project descriptions and high-level plans, and draft reports on financial status, resources, effort required, and schedules.

4. Boosting Team Creativity

When it comes to fostering new ideas and approaches through teamwork, AI as a co-thinker comes into play. It can simplify the process of translating project needs into specific skills and roles, ensuring a well-balanced team composition and identifying the best skills mix. Additionally, generative AI can facilitate idea generation by offering a wide array of ideas and different perspectives to overcome creative roadblocks.

Farri and Rosani encourage experimenting with both the co-pilot and co-thinker roles of generative AI. The co-pilot mode is ideal for large-scale experiments where AI streamlines tasks like data analysis or drafting slides. The co-thinker mode suits specialized, tailored experiments better. They suggest a combined approach where a task handled by the co-pilot can inform a subsequent task as a co-thinker, such as data analysis informing strategy formulation, or vice versa, like reflecting on a change management strategy to create tailored communications for a target group.