Digital

Imagine, for a moment, that you get to your desk. You log onto your system and there are messages from Varn, Tom and Macy about quality control, delivery delays and new hires, respectively.

Now imagine that Varn, Tom and Macy exist only in the ether. They are lines of computer code trained to behave like they're human. They're tools, right? There to help you: the flesh and blood bundle that you are, full of hopes and dreams, ambition and aspirations. They're there to help you do more with less. Be more productive in a shorter time. Cost less and earn more because you are a human entity that fully understands the imperatives of our admittedly troubled times.

But imagine now that your bosses treat Varn, Tom and Macy like flesh and blood employees. These digital constructs require no overtime or health insurance, they will never double-think an initiative or question a directive and they will slavishly get to whatever is demanded of them cheerfully and without the slightest hint of rebellion or rancor.

What message do you think is being sent here to you by the higher-ups? Not that you're "a valued member of the team". More like that you'd better shape up or soon you will be replaced like the faceless resource you are to them.

I know you think this is unlikely to happen because, let's face it, what kind of CEO would be so tone-deaf and culturally blind to actually go through with such a stunt and expect a good outcome?

Lattice of course (an HR platform no less) did just that and Sarah Franklin thought it would be a great idea! Unsurprisingly, there was some 'pushback' and three days later the idea was nixed. AI is a massive game-changer, I agree. We do not yet know quite how massive because implementation is slow to show results and user-cases where it is proving its worth at a truly broad level are few and far between.

At the same time slavishly leaping onto a bandwagon that discounts the human element as a resource which must be exploited or replaced does not bode well, and we have the evidence to prove it .

We are living through historic times in the full sense of the word. Leaders who stand out possess clarity of mind and the ability to discern the next steps through a morass of choices that do not readily lend themselves as the correct option. The only guide of note through this time is what has always got us through times like this: the ability to focus on people, bring out the best in them, choose tools as opposed to mindless resources to replace them and recruit those around us to support us as we try to navigate the present.

It's not that difficult to do. But it does take faith and trust. Exactly the kind of relational exchange a bunch of lines in a code doesn't require. The lesson here is that if in a time of uncertainty you cannot turn to the person next to you and trust that they have your back then hoping that a machine will do it is never going to work.