Discover how to elevate and protect your human agency. We are in an era where the spotlight is on tech, and leaders are exploring ways to encourage the workforce to think differently. As technology evolves, we adopt surface-level elements, but to really harness what AI can do to reshape the future, we need to go deeper into the fundamentals that allow us to adapt. To partner with AI for the future, we must disrupt established habits and embrace a new mindset.
adoption is accelerating
The numbers and research tell a clear story. AI use in companies jumped from 55% in 2023 to 75% in 2024 [Source: 2024 Business Opportunity of AI, Microsoft, and IDC]. But speed without direction won’t create long-lasting success. Companies are eager to experiment with AI, yet there’s resistance to turning plans into real results that stick.
For decades, organizations have faced the same productivity battles. Too much work, not enough time, processes that slow everyone down. AI can solve these challenges, but only when we understand how the human side operates alongside tech.
the journey
Companies move through five stages when adopting AI: exploring, planning, implementing, scaling, and realizing measurable value. [Source: The AI Strategy Roadmap, Microsoft]
In the exploring stage, teams are testing and learning. Planning means building a strategy and testing ideas. Implementation is when pilots become operational systems. Scaling spreads AI across different teams and functions. Realizing is consistently creating measurable, repeatable value. This is part of agency elevation.
Most companies get stuck between implementing and scaling. While initial pilots succeed, true change in the adaptation and adoption phases contributes to the gaps in realizing everyone’s potential. This is where preparing the workforce to champion change is critical.
change curve
The Story: When the ‘Why’ is clear, curiosity naturally sparks conversations. “Digital transformation” now feels personal. Be open about changing roles and the need for new skills. Without clarity, fear grows and progress halts.
Tailored use cases for specific job families where augmentation will scale need to be identified and shared with the workforce. These resources must articulate how AI is expanding human agency and intelligence, rather than reflecting that the jobs will become obsolete. Position every person at the place where human judgment intersects with AI capabilities.
Data and Technology: AI needs quality data to reason and run expected outcomes. That means breaking down walls between different data sources, ensuring information is accurate and accessible, and building systems that can grow as AI evolves.
The technical foundation determines whether AI stays a small experiment or becomes the new normal in how work gets done. Bridging technological readiness and organizational habits is essential to fully integrating AI.
Culture: Growth and development depend on continuous learning. Beyond tech training, a mindset shift is needed. Adaptation and adoption must be built into courses and resources. This requires leadership from the top, cross-departmental teamwork, and change management that feels natural rather than forced.
trust
One barrier to critical mass adoption is trust. Can we trust AI to be secure? To protect privacy? To work safely? Organizations need strong rules, governance, and clear policies around these questions.
This means setting clear guidelines for how people use AI in their organization, bringing security and compliance teams into the conversation, and being transparent about how AI systems work and who’s accountable for them.
Large tech shifts won’t be perfect right away. Early results might be inconsistent as the workforce and systems learn how to adapt. But companies that accept that the learning curve is not linear, while maintaining proper safeguards, will start to see results take shape.
skills gap
About 45% of organizations say they don’t have enough people with AI skills to do what they want to do [Source: 2024 Business Opportunity of AI, Microsoft and IDC]. This problem is global, but it’s not permanent.
Free learning resources are available from leading LLM companies. The HR team must foster ongoing learning, share valuable examples, and design effective training for all learner types to develop workforce capabilities.
Identify champions within the organization who are excited to try new things, curious, and have a futurist mindset that understands how this impacts their agency. Roll out learning in phases, give the workforce time to adjust, and build confidence before expanding. Small steps often create lasting value.
leadership
Research on leadership in the digital era reveals what traits matter most for this transformation [Source: Leadership in the Digital Era survey]:
- 71 % Adaptability: Pivot and adjust as situations change.
- 48% Curiosity: Ask questions and want to understand how things work.
- 47% Creativity: Imagine new ways of solving old problems.
- 43% Comfort with Ambiguity: Move forward even when everything isn’t clear yet.
These leaders understand agency and the chance to build something new. They embrace uncertainty as growth. Instead of defending the status quo, they ask “what if?” and are not afraid to fail forward.
mindset
Organizations leading this shift see AI as enhancing capabilities rather than replacing people. They view humans and machines as partners and let curiosity drive choices.
Adapting early is the key to transformative change. Human agency success comes from investing time intentionally and translating AI potential into measurable results. The objective is to enhance human agency, not replace people. When companies bridge intent and action, they solve longstanding productivity challenges, especially for those overly reliant on outdated tools like email.
left behind
History shows hesitation is costly. Companies that don’t align leaders, update mindsets, build safeguards, and grow talent will fall behind. Futurist organizations gain productivity, innovation, and an edge that competitors can’t match.
futurist
The future belongs to organizations that see AI not as a replacement, but as a tool to amplify human strengths, the reason no machine can match.
Every choice we make now shapes what comes next, not only for our companies, but for how work evolves for everyone.
The tools and resources exist. The opportunity of what’s possible is an open door. Focusing on the right narrative matters. Elevate your agency to intersect with AI. Keep rising!
