Fear of becoming obsolete. It’s something many of us feel, even if we don’t say it out loud.
You look around and it feels like everyone is experimenting with genAI and building agents. You hear the buzzwords in executive meetings and in the boardroom. You read headlines about roles changing and skills becoming redundant. And that little voice kicks in: Am I keeping up?
If that’s you, you’re not alone, I have the same thought every time I see an article posted on Linked in or listen to a presentation at a conference. For me the answer isn’t to try and shut it all down or slow things up. The answer, as Bill Gates recently put it, is to do what we have always done. Stay curious. Read. Learn. And use the latest tools. Those who do that will be in a stronger position than those who sit back and watch.
This is particularly important for executives and directors. I am seeing some respond to this new wave of tech by limiting access to tools like ChatGPT and other GenAI platforms. But here’s the reality: most of our people are using these tools anyway. And if you’re not supporting them, they’re probably using the free versions. That introduces a very real risk.
Free versions don’t have the safeguards that enterprise versions offer. Anything your people upload, whether it’s a document, a prompt, or any other information to give it context, could become part of the training data. While it is unlikely your company’s specific information will show up in someone else’s prompt response, it’s not impossible.
So what do we do?
Acknowledge the fear. Then give our people the tools, training, and support to do this securely. Help them build confidence. Let them experiment safely. Encourage them to learn, share, and collectively help each other on this journey.
In doing so, you’ll reduce risk. You’ll improve performance. And just as importantly, you’ll be giving people agency, which is the best antidote to anxiety about becoming obsolete.
GenAI is already here, and agents are coming. It’s not about controlling it. It’s about leading with it.
Are you ready to lean in?