The position of managers is seen as an overseeing, all-encompassing presence that is a guiding force for the employees. However, in the quest of engaging and retaining employees, companies often forget that managers too are employees. If their experience within the company is not satisfactory, it can lead to an avalanche that sweeps up all the employees.
Being an effective manager is an uphill task, which means that empowering managers becomes even more important. Ensuring that the personnel in management feel empowered to take decisions and shoulder responsibilities is an art. You’ll have to equip your company with the best tools.
The world of work is witnessing tidal changes in business strategies, made possible by the revolution in technology. The current revolutionary field within technology is Artificial Intelligence (AI) that can be used to create new paradigms of collaboration and creativity.
Save Time from Menial Jobs
A workplace that makes use of AI-based technology can successfully save their managers from wasting time doing menial tasks. Routine tasks can be carried out with greater efficiency and accuracy. The development of intelligent bots or customizable virtual assistants has ensured that workplaces become conducive for creative, innovative thinking by removing the burden of menial jobs. It also helps in establishing great workplace communication.
Managers can greatly profit from such an enterprise as this gives them more time to focus on strategies to increase workplace communication, productivity and employee engagement. It will also lead to democratizing the process of innovation, as managers can focus their energies on upskilling.
Virtual Assistants today, are capable of scheduling meetings across multiple time zones and with several employees. They can also adjust your schedule according to your preferences for the time of the day. Leaders who start using AI in their everyday routine can find quick-win solutions to problems, thereby fulfilling their roles properly.
By removing mental distractions such as scheduling meetings, or answering frequently asked questions regarding IT through chatbots, managers will find that they are freed to concentrate more on high-value, collaborative work that enhances the work-life of everyone involved.
On-the-Job Training that Helps to Upskill
The agenda of empowering managers should always tackle the question of ensuring whether their skills are sufficient to fulfill their jobs. It is only through necessary skills that they can complete their assigned tasks to their full potential. Training for managers is a cocktail of theoretical training on company policies, management methods, and coaching from more experienced leaders. Managers are often overlooked when it comes to upskilling since it is assumed that they are knowledgeable already due to their position. This is not the case as managers also need to be invested in.
Through the use of AI, the process of learning can continue on-the-job, experience is the most reliable teacher when it comes to training managers. Advice from experienced leaders can provide them pointers to tackle problems that they might be facing. Augmented AR/VR (virtual reality) technology can record the experiences of previous managers while they are working, and it can be used to build ‘strategy plans’ for managers to learn from.
Information collected from such imagery can also be used to identify lags in performances and provide tips to overcome such challenges.
Collaboration of HR and Managers Facilitated by AI
The HR department can be essential when it comes to empowering managers since they can actually provide them the correct tools to bring in organizational changes. Managerial positions have a significant impact on business strategies. It is the role of HR then to ensure that managers have the confidence and access to tools that can accelerate their efficiency.
One of the ways HR can help managers is by revamping the process of hiring and on-boarding. The versatility of AI can be seen by its usage in the process of hiring. There are tools that pre-screen the applications to search for the candidate that will best fit the job profile you are looking for. They assess candidates on the basis of their cognitive and emotional abilities, removing demographic markers of race, class, gender, etc. It can also predict if the candidate will be fit for some other role in the company.
This empowers the managers to diversify their teams and recruit robust talent with fresh perspectives. If managers are working with teams that reinforce their beliefs in the vision and mission of the company, they’ll be more engaged with the company.
The Bottom Line
The focus on empowering managers ensures that they are equipped to drive engagement within the company, helping the employees positivity in the workplace and company to grow. Using Artificial Intelligence, an emerging trend within the workforce, managers can diversify the teams, optimize campaigns, or hire talented employees. Businesses that can harness the revolutionary energy that the AI-wave is carrying will manage to stay on top, especially with unpredictable circumstances such as a global pandemic.
