This text first appeared within the WorkLab publication. Get unique insights on AI and the way forward for work by subscribing right here.

As leaders and their groups construct new habits with generative AI, it’s useful to consider work in three classes. First, there are the duties we are able to hand off to AI virtually totally. Subsequent: these the place AI can provide us a lift to get higher outcomes. And at last, there may be the significant, human work for which AI frees up time. As we spend much less time on the mundane—73 % of early customers of Microsoft Copilot mentioned it helped them full duties sooner—we make extra room for the work that evokes and energizes us, and that brings essentially the most worth to our organizations.    

So, which class does a given activity or challenge match into? Image a pyramid: The duties that make up your day kind the essential constructing blocks, which you’ll be able to slot into completely different layers, from the bottom to the summit. Right here’s the blueprint:   

Tier 1 
The bottom layer of your workday consists of duties which might be, nicely, fundamental. That is the not-particularly-exciting work you possibly can strip off your to-do checklist and hand over to AI. Some examples:  

  • Each week, you sit by means of an attendance-optional, 60-minute standing replace on Microsoft Groups as a result of there is likely to be 30 seconds in there that find yourself being related. With Copilot, take that hour again and observe up later: “Did anybody point out my identify?”  

  • Abroad colleagues spin up a loooong e-mail thread in a single day. As an alternative of studying each twist and switch of the talk, ask Copilot for an govt abstract with simply the important thing factors. 

  • You’re rooting by means of recordsdata and channels to trace down a knowledge level somebody talked about. As an alternative, simply ask Copilot to floor it: “Discover the gross sales projections for the Southeast area.” 

Time saved and mundane duties dispatched, you’re prepared for the subsequent degree… 

Tier 2 
That is the work you’re good at, that you simply get pleasure from—and that you may improve with assist from AI. Let’s say you’re writing an important memo, e-mail, or gross sales pitch. Copilot can produce the tough draft, then it will possibly make it easier to sharpen and enhance it as you make your edits. A number of issues you possibly can ask:  

  • Does this writeup accomplish its goal?  

  • Will it resonate with its supposed viewers?  

  • What did I overlook to say?  

You bought that achieved shortly! Now you’ve gotten extra time to do your finest work. You’re prepared for… 

Tier 3 
What’s the apex of the workday? For many people, it’s once we get time to do our most significant work—the work that’s most human. When AI saves us time, we must always get into the behavior of constructing house for one thing rewarding. If you happen to use Copilot to skip a non-essential video name, be proactive about slotting in one thing significant as a substitute. For instance: 

  • Work on that strategic or inventive challenge you’re at all times wishing you had extra time for.  

  • If you happen to’re centered on being a greater supervisor, join with a direct report.  

  • Refresh and recharge by taking a stroll.  

As you sit right down to work at present, take a look at your to-do checklist. What are you able to faucet AI to do for you? What are you able to do higher your self with assist from AI? And with the time you’re saving, the place can you fit in one thing significant? It’s a brand new mind-set about work—and a brand new strategy to see the construction of your day.