Each week Dr Kirstin Ferguson tackles questions on workplace, career and leadership in her advice column Got a Minute? This week: appropriate use of AI, being the fall guy for parents, and the consequences of missing Friday drinks with colleagues.
While businesses seek to integrate AI, more employees are looking for clarification on how exactly that applies to their work practice.Credit: Dionne Gain
Leadership told us to use AI to move faster, so I used a chatbot to draft an internal document and then I edited it heavily. My manager ran it through an AI detector and accused me of being lazy and risking reputational damage. I’m confused: am I supposed to use the tools or not? And how do I defend my judgment without this escalating? I am offended I am being called lazy and, in my view, I used AI exactly as intended.
This is a very modern problem – and one I imagine will only grow. It sounds like your manager is worried your use of AI may lead to a hallucinatory disaster, and they are not wrong to worry. But putting their head in the sand and preventing use of AI altogether is also not helpful.
First, ask your manager what “using AI to move faster” means in practice in your organisation. What does your organisation’s policy say about AI use? Clarify how you are expected to use the tools, and for what tasks. Focus on the process to move the conversation away from your personal performance. Explain how you used AI to generate a first draft and how your responsible use of AI is allowing you to be more productive. This may be as much about educating your manager as it is about making sure you are both on the same page about using AI at all in your role.
Next time a task comes up confirm expectations before you start. The more you collaborate with your manager on setting clear guidelines for how you can use AI with their approval, the less likely they will be to question you again.
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I’m the only single person on a five-person team. Parents regularly ask to swap late meetings with me because they think I am more flexible. I don’t want to be the bad guy but I’m quietly burning out, and I am sick of being the easy go-to person for the out-of-hours jobs. How do I manage this?
I would encourage you to think of your time outside of work just as preciously as a parent might, and communicate this to your colleagues. When they ask you to take the late meeting next time, tell them you have a regular commitment. This is a matter of being fair to all, not just deciding one person’s out-of-work commitment is more important than another. Whether you have a gym class, or you want to catch up with friends, or simply go home and do the washing, your time outside of work does not need to be justified. It also shouldn’t be seen of lesser value because it doesn’t involve caring responsibilities.
Ultimately there are times when we all need a little give and take, and so if you can swap a shift, great. But likewise, your colleagues should expect you can ask the same of them if needed. It is fairness that is missing here and hopefully through setting some boundaries of your own you will be able to achieve that.