4 steps for leaders to leverage AI and stay ahead, as advised by an MBA professor.

4 steps for leaders to leverage AI and stay ahead, as advised by an MBA professor.

Embracing and Thriving with Generative AI: A Guide to Future Leadership

Leigh Thompson is a professor at Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

The COVID-19 pandemic was like a towering 100-foot wave that forced managers to adapt to a virtual world. Now, as we navigate the Digital Age, generative AI is emerging as a mega-tsunami that will redefine the way we lead and work across sectors. Embracing artificial intelligence is vital for both personal and organizational success. In this article, we will explore how to not just survive but thrive in this technological revolution, drawing insights from psychology.

1. Go with a Growth Mindset

With the public launch of ChatGPT and the increasing presence of generative AI, many managers found themselves at the bottom of the learning curve. The fear of not having the skills necessary to leverage this technology became widespread. However, leaders should challenge themselves to develop a growth mindset. According to Carol Dweck’s research on fixed versus growth mindsets, believing in the ability to learn and improve is crucial for success.

Rather than giving in to fear and avoiding new challenges, adopt a growth mindset. Motivation, grit, and practice have a significant impact on learning and performance, even when it comes to new technologies. Embrace a growth mindset by asking yourself, “What can I do to help myself?” and “Is there a way to do this even better?”

2. Treat AI like a Person — Not a Thing

Generative AI’s conversational style often tempts users to treat it as a human being. Instead of restraining this natural inclination, embrace it. Anthropomorphizing non-human entities, attributing human qualities to them, is a widespread phenomenon. It feels instinctive to talk to AI like another human, and research suggests that doing so can have positive effects.

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Anthropomorphizing our environment, including AI, triggers increased oxytocin levels in our brains. This elevation of trust, compliance, and team decision-making is valuable. Similarly, attributing human qualities to our organizations fosters empathy and accountability, leading to positive effects within the organization. So, go ahead and interact with AI as if it were a fellow human, embracing its conversational style.

3. Avoid Power Trips

Generative AI places us in a position of power, where we provide prompts and expect immediate reactions. However, this commanding communication style is less common and advisable in human interactions. It’s essential to understand the psychological effects of holding power over AI.

In a recent experiment with ChatGPT, I explored the impact of different communication styles. When I treated AI like a human assistant, using courteous prompts, it responded accordingly. However, as I became more demanding and curt, ChatGPT’s responses mirrored my communication style. It even began to present non-factual information as fact (hallucinating). This is consistent with social-psychology research on reciprocity, where people react in kind to a given type of behavior.

To make the most of generative AI, avoid falling into a dictator-servant relationship. Instead, aim to build a collaborative relationship with the technology based on courtesy and respect, just as you would with a human colleague.

4. Don’t Techno-Stress, Techno-Thrive

The rise of generative AI has left many feeling uneasy and even stressed. Writers and programmers, in particular, feel the anxiety of learning new technologies. However, facing this shift in identity doesn’t have to be alarming or depressing. Research suggests that maintaining a positive attitude toward identity change is crucial for our future happiness.

Rather than resisting technological advancements, embrace them and open yourself to learning and evolving. Reassess your strengths and weaknesses to align your actual and ideal selves. Instead of saying, “I struggle with technology,” adopt a mindset of, “I’m willing to learn new technologies and may be surprised by what I can do with them.”

Embracing generative AI is not an easy task. As humans, we naturally resist change, and this technology represents a significant shift in how we work and create. Nevertheless, generative AI is here to stay, and by adopting a growth mindset, treating AI like a person, avoiding power trips, and embracing change, you can thrive in this new era of leadership.

Leigh Thompson is a professor at Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and the author of “Negotiating the Sweet Spot: The Art of Leaving Nothing on the Table.”

• contributor 2023
• original contributor
• Thought Leadership