The introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) into our professional lives is not just a technological upgrade – it’s a cultural revolution. Adoption of Copilot for Microsoft 365 (M365) is rapidly changing what the typical workday looks like. This change naturally brings about a lot of questions – including what exactly you should be asking your new AI tools for help with.
At Data#3, our Copilot for M365 Working Groups’ recent discussions have shed light on a pivotal shift in our work ethos. The group explored the concern that some individuals might feel reluctant to ask AI questions in areas where they believe they should already know the answers, or worry about how their inquiries might be perceived by their supervisors. After a lengthy discussion, the group concluded that asking even seemingly simple questions of AI should not only be acceptable – but encouraged.
The heart of this discussion revolved around the idea of a major cultural shift surrounding expertise, and what it means in the workplace. Using AI is not about abandoning our expertise – it’s about augmenting it. The integration of AI into the workplace provides an opportunity to validate what we already know, learn new things and continue pushing the boundaries of what we can achieve.
In one of our recent Copilot for M365 Working Group workshops, the Data#3 team considered how asking AI questions they already know the answer to might help them become more adept at harnessing the power of AI.
Steve Bedwell, our technical maestro, might ask, ‘What are the latest advancements in Copilot Studio?’ While Steve is well-versed in this subject, his interaction with Copilot serves as a springboard for generating a nuanced technical narrative, enriched by his own expertise.
On the business front, James Creighton, Practice Manager at Data#3 could pose the question, ‘How can we leverage emerging markets for growth?’ Although he is familiar with this topic, Copilot’s insights could help him craft a business strategy that’s both innovative and grounded in data-driven analysis, and significantly less time consuming than doing so manually. In this example, AI provides articulate content that can be moulded to what he needs, rather than creating it from scratch.
Deborah-Ann Allan, Principal Consultant, known for her sharp insights, might inquire, “What are effective change management strategies when deploying cutting-edge technology?” Through Copilot’s insights, she can utilise ideas that can be tailored to resonate with organisational culture.
Our master trainer in Modern Work technologies, Alice Antonsen, might ask, “How can we enhance remote collaboration through training?” With Copilot, she can quickly and efficiently draft comprehensive training materials, which she can then refine through her deep understanding of the subject.
These are just some brief examples of how you might generate value by prompting Copilot for M365 with a question you already know the answer to. In practice, you’ll likely need to follow your initial prompts with additional ones to refine the output. By continuing to ask questions of your AI tools, you can craft your output to a stage where you’re relatively happy with a first draft. After that, you bring your know-how and experience, your thoughts and your heart to review and manually add the finishing touches.
That’s why it’s critical for organisations to make time for conversations like these. As we continue to navigate this cultural shift, it’s essential to recognise that asking AI for assistance is not a sign of incompetence – it’s a sign of strategic thinking. It’s also an acknowledgement that while we may know the answers, there’s always room for growth, refinement, and a fresh perspective.
As another example, we used Copilot for M365 to help draft this blog based on the transcript of an internal discussion. The initial draft made it easy to bring together several voices and provided a foundation to build on our team’s knowledge and language preferences—most importantly, in significantly less time. The ideas were ours, and the discussion took place between humans, but Copilot was able to create a well-structured blog once we provided clear directions on how to do so.
The journey we’re on at Data#3 is one of transformation, where AI becomes an integral part of our intellectual toolkit. It’s a journey that encourages curiosity, fosters innovation, and ultimately – we believe – leads to a more dynamic and empowered workforce. By embracing change with confidence, we can become more confident in using the power of our questions to unlock the full potential of AI in our workplace.
Interested in finding out more about how we can help you along your AI journey? Reach out to our team today.