Build AI Skills and Boost Professional Development - Two for One
As a nonprofit technology consultant, and a solopreneur, I am solely responsible for my own professional development. It's important that I stay on top of my field, especially emerging trends like use of artificial intelligence in nonprofit organizations.
I devised a way to kill two birds with one stone, or, as a friend likes to say, feed two birds with one scone:
Hands-on experimentation with AI chatbots, that helped me…
Create a professional development plan and curriculum.
When I shared this with TaKeisha Walker, it led to a quite interesting conversation. We recorded it, and I'll share some of the highlights here. (Quotes are lightly edited.)
AI Overwhelm: Start Small, Start Practical
Ain’t nobody got time for unfocused experimentation, right? So, find a way to learn AI while you're also accomplishing a practical goal. Practice skills for the future and get an immediate benefit.
TaKeisha:
“The advice I’ve heard about AI and responsible AI in nonprofits is: start small. Start small, but start with something meaningful and relevant to your organization.”
Why Start with Professional Development?
Professional development efforts are more effective, and less likely to get cut or ignored, if they are customized and aligned to strategic objectives. Could an AI chatbot provide a shortcut?
TaKeisha:
“Professional development is this elusive topic that we all know we should be committed to, that we all know we should be doing—but how do you get started? How do you support it? So I thought this was a perfect place to start.”
“It’s so easy for professional development to get cut when there are budget shortfalls or timing issues. AI could have made the ROI clear by answering, How did we align that with strategic objectives?”
Professional development may be a can that’s easy to kick down the road, but it’s important.
TaKeisha:
“Taking time to read a book or do a course can feel frivolous when constituents and clients are depending on you and the mission is so critical.”
Karen:
“And yet, you step back and realize professional development really is essential—for organizational success, employee retention, preparing for the future, building resilience, and having a successful career.”
HR Capacity Gap
Even in organizations that have an HR staff member or adviser, developing personalized plans for each individual is a daunting task. How can we help each person discover what skills they need and how to obtain them?
Karen:
“If they can find a shortcut, a thinking partner, some assistance in putting together professional development plans, that’s a big advantage for that harried HR person, executive director, or manager who doesn’t have a source of expert support.”
Karen's step-by-step example
Karen:
“When I wanted to identify my development needs, I used a chatbot to help assess myself...I came up with a list of skills I wanted to strengthen. Then I asked for a learning plan with specific assignments around each skill.”
My plan included a schedule with homework assignments such as reading, videos, practice exercises, and getting feedback from others. I’ve been working through that plan, and my skills have noticeably improved.
AI augments, It Doesn't Replace
Think about doing something like this in partnership with your manager or someone you supervise. AI cannot replace relationships or leadership. But it can streamline the hard parts. It can augment human interaction and insight.
Staff in Driver's Seat
When people use AI to assist them in creating their own professional development plan, they don’t have to wait for permission or direction.
TaKeisha:
“This gives the employee, no matter what level they are, a place to start assessing and then developing their own plan so that they can initiate a real conversation with their manager about where they need to learn and grow.”
Investing in Ourselves
TaKeisha:
“We believe in nonprofit missions, but we also have to support ourselves. We have to continue growing and filling our own cups. Investing in employees is mission critical.”
Karen:
“I’ve been hearing so much about burnout. Giving people ways to invest in themselves—to be more competent, to find purpose—is part of professional development. If we can equip people to use AI to support that, that would be a success for me.”
