Around 71 per cent of organisations do not provide internal communicators guidance on when, where or how to use AI technology, according to Gallagher’s.
According to Gallagher’s 2023/24 State of the Sector report, compiled from insights gathered from over 2,300 communication and HR leaders across 56 countries, it was found that 13 per cent, or 1 in 10 communicators, were uncertain about their organisation’s utilisation of AI.
The State of the Sector report underscores that organisations leveraging AI are thrice as likely to anticipate workload reduction and 20 per cent more inclined to expect enhanced communication quality. While AI holds the potential to enhance efficiencies, Gallagher suggests prioritising foundational skills and training to maximise benefits.
Furthermore, the report reveals that 84 per cent of communicators rely on managers for communication, yet 3 in 5 find manager communication inadequate. Around 18 per cent identify poor people management skills as a significant barrier to success in 2024, prompting organisations to implement diverse improvement strategies.
The report also evaluates communicators’ wellbeing, indicating a 38 per cent decline in 2023. Challenges such as shortened employee attention spans, limited leadership support, and increased workloads likely contributed to this downturn.
Gallagher’s global managing director Ben Reynolds says: “For many organisations, it’s the Wild West with regard to how they are adopting and implementing AI. Because so few organisations have an AI plan, we can connect the dots to better understand why half of the respondents, 50 per cent, are skeptical or even fearful about the impact of AI.
“That said, with an AI plan in place, the technologies may help communicators overcome what they’ve identified as two of the top three barriers in 2024, which are the lack of time and lack of financial resources.
“Managers who were evaluated on their communications skills were twice as likely to meet/exceed expectations as those who were not evaluated. And those who weren’t evaluated/accountable were more likely to receive tools, training & resources.
“Communicators are a passionate bunch who are focused on making meaningful changes within their organisations. Rather than putting more weight on their shoulders, the goal of Gallagher’s State of the Sector report is to offer benchmarks and guidance to ultimately improve the employee experience, as well as their own.”
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