(BPT) - Generative AI is everywhere, especially in the workplace. In fact, many aspiring leaders in the workplace are excited about the widespread adoption of AI and recognize it as a valuable tool for their careers.
Google Workspace - the productivity platform that includes AI-powered tools like Gmail, Docs, Drive, Meet and more, relied on by over 3 billion users and more than 10 million paying customers - commissioned a survey with The Harris Poll to get a sense of how rising leaders view and use AI.
The study surveyed workers ages 22-39 years old who currently have or aspire to hold a leadership position at work. The result? The research found that 82% of young leaders surveyed are already embracing AI tools in their work. And, looking further out, almost all (98%) of those surveyed anticipate that AI will have an impact on their industry or workplace within the next five years.
"Our research shows that emerging leaders are adopting AI to increase their impact at work," said Yulie Kwon Kim, VP of Product, Google Workspace. "Rising leaders are not simply using AI as a tool for efficiency, but as a catalyst to help grow their careers."
The findings show it's clear - aspiring leaders are adopting AI to increase their impact at work. Here are five key ways AI is transforming the way young leaders work.
1. Overcome task paralysis
Getting started on a task, big or small, can feel incredibly challenging and can lead to task paralysis. Luckily, AI can help employees navigate the difficulties of task initiation, with 88% of survey respondents saying they would use AI to start a task that feels overwhelming. Consider using AI to brainstorm ideas, help write an email, outline a blog draft, and more.
2. Improve writing
In the era of hybrid work, strong communication is more important than ever. When sending emails, conveying the proper tone and content can be anxiety-inducing, especially for those earlier in their careers.
To that end, many (88%) young leaders say that AI can help them strike the right tone in their writing. Even more telling, 70% have used AI for tasks like drafting email responses, writing challenging emails from scratch, or helping overcome language barriers.
3. Increase work flexibility
Hybrid work is becoming the new normal for many organizations, so it's important that people have tools to support more flexible collaboration from anywhere, across any device. A whopping 87% of respondents believe AI can make them more comfortable composing lengthy emails on their phones and 90% also believe they would feel more confident joining meetings on-the-go if they knew AI was taking meeting notes for them.
4. Improve management capabilities
It's important that managers have strong communication and interpersonal skills, can think strategically, and more. The survey found that these are areas where AI can help in meaningful ways. When considering how to improve their management capabilities, 79% of respondents said they are interested in using AI to become better managers. This includes 47% who said AI can help enhance communication to improve problem-solving and facilitate better relationships.
5. Create a bigger impact
Rising leaders want to drive real impact in their workplace. Oftentimes, however, routine tasks can bog down young leaders and keep them from focusing on strategic, career-defining work. To better prioritize their time, many young leaders are using AI. Fifty percent recognize the current and potential impact of AI to automate routine tasks, so that they can spend more time focused on strategic work.
These are just five ways rising leaders are using AI to aid their professional development and get ahead in the workplace. With AI as an impetus to help young leaders grow their careers and drive more impact, AI will undoubtedly have a ripple effect on organizations around the world.
"The future of work is here - and it's AI-powered," said Yulie Kwon Kim.
To learn more about AI and its uses, visit Workspace.Google.com/Solutions/AI/.
