How to turn AI into a team partner, not just a toll

A few months ago, I was stuck on an email. We were about to announce a delay in issuing a new Jotform Product, and I needed to explain “why” which made it honest, hopeful and clear. Not too corporate. Not too comfortable. I wrote the opening five times. Nothing was coming down.

Due to the disappointment of the strategy, I opened and typed my AI assistant, “Can you help me write email across the company about a product delay that is transparent, assures and what the team is next to?”

The one who returned was amazingly decent. Not ready for publication, but I have good enough to move forward. Then I tried to do something else. “Write again as you are a product manager who talks to power users.” Then “now reduce it in an email.” Suddenly, I was no longer trapped – I had options, head shifts and enough ideas. I was not working alone. I had a co -pilot.

The AI ​​has changed our way of working, but the truth is that most of us are not in fact using it in their full potential. This is how to change it.

Related: 7 ways you can use AI to 10x your leadership abilities

Change your impression

Large language models like Chat GPT (LLM) have now been in the mainstream for a few years, and even the most technical reinforcement among us has led to their offerings.

According to Harvard Business Review, GPTS is the most popular use “Personal and professional assistance“Representing a significant change from the previous year, when in the rule category” was to detect technical support and defects. “In 2024, consumers were relying on tasks such as creating ideas and finding answers to specific questions. Now, their relationship with the AI ​​is developed, consumers treat it less and less like a team partner.

This evolution is key. We can take advantage of this, not in science, but with a practical, mutual cooperation, not in science, but we can take advantage of it. At this point, I use AI to remove multiple tasks from my plate, assigning its role on the basis of it: If I want to collect statistics or summarize articles, I ask him to take the role of research assistant. If I want to review a wire frame copy, I ask him to work like a UX designer. If I am improving a pitch or strategy doctor, I would indicate it to behave like an investor or board member, so I can cause pressure before presenting my thinking to the real audience.

The more deliberately “cast” your AI assistant, the higher the price – not only as a helper, but also as a real extension of your thinking.

Get your gesture at the point

AI is not magic – it’s accountable. Configential gestures ambiguous answers. But with a clear direction, including the tone, structure and style you want, you will unlock far more powerful results.

Says you want to create a blog post to announce a new feature or product. Instead of just saying, “Write me a blog post”, make it specific. “You are the CEO of a tech company that has just launched (insert the product and detail). Write a 300-500 word blog post that accurately captures the product features, it includes key details, and tell users how to improve their daily flu, as a tone and a tone of the company, as a tone of the tone. Should be.

I have helped to treat a junior team member such as prompt engineering. Instead of eliminating the first draft, offer feedback: “Make it less technical,” “add an example of a real world,” or “make the first paragraph more engage.” The more specific gestures and reviews, the better results.

Related: Why do smart business people let AI lifting heavy business

Make it into your workflow

One of the biggest lost opportunities of casual AI losers is to be used instead of using it systematically. With just a little time investment, AI has the potential to smooth almost every aspect of your daily workf workflow.

These days, even without the knowledge of coding, those people can easily produce custom AI assistants that are repeatedly designed to lighten the burden of tasks. From Claude’s “project” to Gemini’s “mini”, these platforms enable users to store data, such as detailed instructions and head guidelines to prevent the same indicator from writing as much as possible.

For example, I have developed a scheduling and email assistant that helps me to trave my inbox and follow the meeting’s follow -up. It is full of previous email templates, understands my preferred tone and can draft the context of the context or send a recovery with action items after a meeting. Since it is trained on how I generally communicate and prefer, it feels less like a chat boot and more responsible personal support.

My advice? Start small Choose a repeated work-some less lift but time demand-and assign it to your AI assistant. Give it a structure, check it out and offer an opinion as soon as you go. Long ago, these automatic assistants will start to feel like members of the hidden team working behind the screen so that you can focus on giving you the most importance.