Team Optimization with AI: Do More of This, Less of That for High Performance

What does it mean to have a high-performing team when computers can now handle much of the work traditionally done by humans? The answer isn’t straightforward, but after working with numerous clients, we've identified key trends that can guide team optimization in this evolving landscape.

Do More of...

Measuring Activities and Deliverables

Delivering tangible results is more crucial than ever. AI is streamlining tasks like content generation and information synthesis, enabling teams to produce faster outcomes. In today’s environment, high-performing teams focus on delivering results quickly. Management expects speed and efficiency, and the teams excelling in this new era are those that consistently deliver.

Tailored Coaching Based on Reporting

It’s increasingly important that reports reflect the wide variety of tasks an individual engages in. Flexibility in reporting allows managers to effectively prioritize work. With AI, specifically large language models (LLMs), providing instant access to information, managers expect the same level of detail from their team reports. While current data models can complicate this, tools like Databricks or Azure Data Factory, or even Microsoft Fabric, can integrate seamlessly into a company's reporting infrastructure. However, scaling and resources may present limitations depending on your IT setup.

Ambiguity in Role Definitions

Perhaps the least surprising impact of AI is that it enables people to do more than ever before. Designers are expanding into product management, program managers are deepening their technical expertise, and engineers are applying their skills to financial analysis. AI is pushing individuals to stretch beyond their formal training, making it essential for management to foster curiosity and drive people to explore new areas. Hiring should now focus on the ability to get work done rather than strict qualifications in a particular subject matter.

In-Person Collaboration

In-person collaboration remains essential, particularly for brainstorming new ideas. AI can generate content based on existing knowledge, but it lacks the ability to create truly new concepts. Human ingenuity thrives in real-time, face-to-face discussions that spark innovation. While AI excels at remixing the old, human creativity is necessary for generating the new—and that’s best done together, in person.

Do Less of...

One-Size-Fits-All Management

Rigid frameworks dictating how people should work are becoming obsolete. AI allows outputs to be packaged in ways that provide management with visibility, without requiring strict adherence to specific processes. As long as work is tracked consistently and accessible through tools that facilitate reporting, there’s less need to mandate how teams must operate. Flexibility is key.

Unfocused Meetings

AI meeting summaries reveal just how much time is wasted in unfocused virtual meetings. By enabling transcription and summarizing discussions into outcomes, blockers, and next steps, you can easily see how much of a 60-minute meeting is irrelevant. Reduce these time-wasters by leveraging AI tools and keeping meetings on track.

Tolerance for Delays

Expect immediate results and push back when progress takes more than two weeks. The tolerance for delays is waning—and that’s a good thing. In the AI age, effective management means recognizing that teams now have more tools at their disposal to be productive. If your team isn’t delivering insights, results, or progress reports within a two-week period, it’s time to reassess. Regular, tangible outputs should be the new normal.

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