Using Tech to Foster Team Engagement

Throwing AI tools at your team without a plan is like giving them a Ferrari without driving lessons. AI only drives impact if your workforce knows how to use it effectively. After: 1-defining objectives 2-assessing readiness 3-piloting use cases with a tiger team Step 4 is about empowering the broader team to leverage AI confidently. Boston Consulting Group (BCG) research and Gilbert’s Behavior Engineering Model show that high-impact AI adoption is 80% about people, 20% about tech. Here’s how to make that happen: 1️⃣ Environmental Supports: Build the Framework for Success -Clear Guidance: Define AI’s role in specific tasks. If a tool like Momentum.io automates data entry, outline how it frees up time for strategic activities. -Accessible Tools: Ensure AI tools are easy to use and well-integrated. For tools like ChatGPT create a prompt library so employees don’t have to start from scratch. -Recognition: Acknowledge team members who make measurable improvements with AI, like reducing response times or boosting engagement. Recognition fuels adoption. 2️⃣ Empower with Tiger Team Champions -Use Tiger/Pilot Team Champions: Leverage your pilot team members as champions who share workflows and real-world results. Their successes give others confidence and practical insights. -Role-Specific Training: Focus on high-impact skills for each role. Sales might use prompts for lead scoring, while support teams focus on customer inquiries. Keep it relevant and simple. -Match Tools to Skill Levels: For non-technical roles, choose tools with low-code interfaces or embedded automation. Keep adoption smooth by aligning with current abilities. 3️⃣ Continuous Feedback and Real-Time Learning -Pilot Insights: Apply findings from the pilot phase to refine processes and address any gaps. Updates based on tiger team feedback benefit the entire workforce. -Knowledge Hub: Create an evolving resource library with top prompts, troubleshooting guides, and FAQs. Let it grow as employees share tips and adjustments. -Peer Learning: Champions from the tiger team can host peer-led sessions to show AI’s real impact, making it more approachable. 4️⃣ Just in Time Enablement -On-Demand Help Channels: Offer immediate support options, like a Slack channel or help desk, to address issues as they arise. -Use AI to enable AI: Create customGPT that are task or job specific to lighten workload or learning brain load. Leverage NotebookLLM. -Troubleshooting Guide: Provide a quick-reference guide for common AI issues, empowering employees to solve small challenges independently. AI’s true power lies in your team’s ability to use it well. Step 4 is about support, practical training, and peer learning led by tiger team champions. By building confidence and competence, you’re creating an AI-enabled workforce ready to drive real impact. Step 5 coming next ;) Ps my next podcast guest, we talk about what happens when AI does a lot of what humans used to do… Stay tuned.

Top-performing AI users are twice as likely to quit. Here's why - and how to stop it: While AI tools are dramatically increasing productivity, They're also dramatically increasing burnout. According to new findings from The Upwork Research Institute,   88% of top AI performers report burnout, And they are 2x as likely to leave their jobs. The reality is that AI is quietly eroding ↳Human connection ↳Trust ↳Purpose Which are all critical to long-term success. But it doesn't have to be that way. Proactive leaders can take advantage of AI's massive contributions, While still supporting motivated, engaged, and thriving teams. Here's how to start: 1. Make it okay to log off ↳AI tools are always available, which makes people feel like they should be too ↳Ex: Say, "You don't need to respond outside work hours," and back it up 2. Make time for real connection ↳People now say they trust AI more than coworkers, putting connection at risk ↳Ex: Start team meetings with shoutouts and appreciation, not just metrics 3. Notice the good stuff out loud ↳AI delivers quick results, but people need to feel appreciated to stay engaged ↳Ex: Ask, "What's something you're proud of this week?" in 1:1s 4. Give people time to think ↳AI increases speed, but without space to think, quality suffers ↳Ex: Block two hours daily for deep work across the team 5. Remind people why their work matters ↳AI can make work feel transactional, draining the meaning that fuels motivation ↳Ex: Share a customer story to remind people what they're part of 6. Make it safe to speak up ↳AI moves fast, but without safety, speed leads to silence, not innovation ↳Ex: Encourage questions even when things are moving quickly 7. Share the full picture ↳AI tools give fast answers, but people need context to feel connected ↳Ex: Share how and why key decisions were made 8. Celebrate what only humans can do ↳AI optimizes for output - humans thrive when their unique gifts are seen ↳Ex: Recognize creativity, empathy, or leadership, not just speed or output 9. Show it's okay to struggle ↳AI can make it seem like everyone's cruising, making people hide their own challenges ↳Ex: Share your confusion or frustrations so others feel safe doing the same 10. Slow down when it matters ↳AI can answer fast, but it takes human judgment to ask the right questions ↳Ex: Praise someone who pauses to think critically instead of rushing 11. Find moments to build trust ↳Trust is built through action, but AI has made human follow-through less visible ↳Ex: Send the message, make the call, follow up - show them they can count on you AI's short-term gains are real and impressive. But only the leaders who invest in people will make those gains last. Are you seeing burnout rise as AI use increases? --- ♻️ Repost to help more teams thrive with AI. And for even more tips on how to strengthen workplaces in the AI era, Check out Upwork’s complete report: http://spr.ly/GeorgeStern #UpworkPartner #FutureOfWork #AI

Most teams are underperforming. Not because of laziness. Not because of bad culture. But because the people are stuck doing work AI should be doing. Want better meetings? Want stronger collaboration? Want better performance? Then free your team from doing things they shouldn’t be doing. Here are 5 simple, powerful ways AI is already helping teams build better ⬇️ ↳ 1. Summarizing conversations and meetings Let AI generate transcripts, write summaries, and pull action items. Tools like Fireflies(dot)ai, Sembly, or Cluely let humans listen deeply instead of multitasking. 👉 Deep listening creates better decisions. ↳ 2. AI-powered dashboards and alerts Use AI to surface KPIs, anomalies, and early warning signals. When AI tells the team what’s changing, the team can focus on what to do about it. 👉 Conversations shift from data-gathering to decision-making. ↳ 3. Detecting tone and team sentiment AI can analyze Slack, Zoom, or email data to flag mood swings, overload, or risk of burnout. This gives managers a chance to step in before trust or morale break down. 👉 Tech reads the room, so humans can step up. ↳ 4. Automating low-EQ, repetitive tasks Inbox triage, calendar management, ticket routing, and basic reporting don’t need a human. AI frees up emotional bandwidth so people can do higher-order, higher-empathy work. 👉 Free your team from the robotic parts of their jobs. ↳ 5. Drafting the first version of everything Project plans, presentations, emails, proposals—let AI write the messy first version. Humans can then refine, adapt, and build something great together. 👉 Collaboration thrives when people start from something, not nothing. This isn’t about replacing people. It’s about amplifying them. AI isn’t just a productivity tool—it’s a team design tool. ✅ Start mapping tasks that are low EQ, high repetition, and ripe for automation ✅ Pick 1 AI tool to test across a core workflow next week ✅ Train your team to co-create with AI, not just delegate to it ♻️Repost & follow John Brewton for content that helps. ✅ Do. Fail. Learn. Grow. Win. ✅ Repeat. Forever. ⸻ 📬Subscribe to Operating by John Brewton for deep dives on the history and future of operating companies (🔗in profile).