For those who have never worked with an assistant—whether human or powered by artificial intelligence—the idea of asking for help may simply escape them or be viewed as intimidating. Yet, as technology evolves, assistants, particularly general-purpose AI, is reshaping the landscape of work. Adapting to this represents a culture shift presenting challenges and opportunities for professionals across industries.
An assistant, especially one powered by AI, serves as more than just a tool. It’s a collaborator that can enhance productivity, creativity, and efficiency. Tasks that once demanded hours of research, writing, or logistics can now be streamlined with the help of an intelligent assistant. From brainstorming ideas to drafting communications, or just taking care of routine administrative matters, these tools can help professionals focus on decision-making and creative problem-solving.
What Research Says...
Interestingly, research highlights a recurring failure people make, especially under pressure: the reluctance to ask for help. When deadlines loom or responsibilities multiply, many professionals instinctively shoulder the burden alone, believing that seeking assistance signals weakness or incompetence. This mindset can lead to burnout, mistakes, and missed opportunities for collaboration. Recognizing this tendency and overcoming it is an important part of organization culture change as AI assistants and other related technologies enter the market.
For individuals unaccustomed to using assistants, the first step is to understand their capabilities. Assistants, human or virtual, thrive on clarity: provide precise instructions, and watch carefully how they respond. Get to know your assistant and learn what they do well and what you need to work on. Remember, assistants–human or digital--grow and improve over time as experience is gained, so you need to adapt and learn over time too. For those used to delegating tasks, adapting to an AI assistant involves recognizing its strengths: lightning speed, encyclopedic knowledge, and an unparalleled ability to process vast amounts of data in real time.
Leadership Matters
Leaders play a crucial role in encouraging the use of assistants and fostering a culture that embraces technological change. By openly demonstrating their own use of AI tools and showcasing the value assistants bring, leaders can inspire their teams to follow suit. They can provide training, resources, and guidance to ensure employees feel confident in using assistants for a wide range of tasks. But most importantly, leaders who normalize the use of such technology help reduce any stigma or resistance associated with seeking help, paving the way to adopting to change.
At EXIM, a key ingredient in creating this culture is our bi–monthly lunch and learns where staff can share how they are using AI – not just what worked, but things they tried that didn’t go so well. Recent presenters at these town hall-style meetings included the Chief Human Capital Officer, our head of Global Business Development, and our China Transformational Export Program. We have taken a strong tone-at-the-top that playing with these new tools is ok, interesting, and encouraged. Our meetings, while large (they often draw over one-third of the EXIM staff), are personal and not fancy... a realistic and unvarnished exposition of team-mates sharing what they are doing to make it work.
Internally, EXIM models behavior that change requires embracing curiosity and flexibility. Our leaders understand that they must foster environments where using AI tools is encouraged and seen as a natural extension of professional capabilities. It's no different than past technological changes moving from calculators to spreadsheets or typewriters to word-processing software, the use of internet search, the introduction of smart phones, and modern collaboration software. Teams who lean into a culture of experimenting and curiosity and invest in enhancing their skills create room for other priorities and new advancements in their craft.
Final Thoughts
Whether rediscovering its value or learning to leverage its capabilities for the first time, an AI assistant is more than just a convenience: it’s a step toward future-ready work. By embracing this change and adapting to the opportunities of working with technology, individuals and organizations alike stand to thrive. And perhaps most importantly, they can overcome the all-too-common failure to ask for help, setting the stage for more productive, creative and resilient approaches to work.
Adopting assistants signals a culture shift in how we approach work. It challenges the traditional notion of individual output being the sole measure of productivity. As we move into this new world, the performance standard of a professional will move to the professional plus their assistant vs the professional operating alone in an old technology paradigm.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Read Howard Spira's EXIM Bio
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