The Human Side of the AI Revolution: How Shared Values Help Internal Auditors Avoid Risk
Recently, David Allison spoke at the IIA Canada’s National Conference in Quebec City, Canada, and revealed the results of a valuegraphic study that identified the shared values of people working within the largest public and private sector organizations across Canada, revealing crucial insights that can help auditors address the emerging challenges of AI integration in the workplace. He wrote this article based on those research findings.
The rise of AI is no longer something we can ignore. Internal auditors, business leaders, and HR professionals are facing a new frontier where machines are fundamentally reshaping how we work. And while that brings incredible opportunities, it also brings risks—human risks. In our rush to implement AI technologies, we sometimes forget about the people. Employees may feel disconnected, confused, or even threatened by these changes.
And that leads to disengagement, increased turnover, and workplace culture disruption.
But here’s the thing: We have a secret weapon that can help us manage the human side of AI integration. That weapon is shared human values. By focusing on shared values, we can reduce the human risk associated with AI and boost engagement, retention, and overall satisfaction in the workplace.
So, how do we do that? In this article, I’ll take you through three fundamental values – the Power Values – that we uncovered in a Valuegraphic Profile of people from the largest public and private sector organizations across Canada. We’ll explore how understanding and using shared values can help create better, stronger workplaces as AI becomes a bigger part of our daily work life.
Power Value #1: Personal Growth
We all want to get better at something. Based on the valuegraphic data, that’s especially true for employees in Canada’s largest public and private sector organizations. They value Personal Growth—the desire to be better today than they were yesterday.
But how does this value relate to AI integration? Well, let’s think about how AI is usually introduced into the workplace. Many employees feel like it’s this big, scary thing that could replace them. Instead, we should flip the script and make AI a tool for personal growth.
AI is no longer a threat, it’s an ally in their journey to improve daily. This approach will help demystify AI and make it part of their daily routine in a positive way. You could do this simply by introducing a suite of AI-driven learning-on-demand opportunities, for example. Let people use AI tools to help them learn new hobbies or skills, or explore new productivity hacks that make them feel like they are moving ahead. Show them how AI can enhance their own personal growth and watch the anxiety fall away.
Power Value #2: Personal Responsibility
The second Power Value we found is Personal Responsibility. For the employees we profiled, this is specifically about feeling stable; like they’ve got things under control. These folks who work in our largest organizations across the country want to get things done because it makes them feel secure and successful.
Here’s an interesting way to deliver on this value. Track and share metrics on how much more efficient employees become during the early stages of AI adoption. Provide hard data that shows AI isn’t here to take over—it’s here to align with their shared value of Personal Responsibility. Employees will feel more stable, which is key to retaining your best talent.
Power Value #3: Experiences
Lastly, we found that employees in the largest organizations value Experiences. This can mean a solo experience where they learn something new or a shared experience where they connect with others. At work, employees want to feel like they belong and that they’re part of something bigger than themselves.
When employees see that they’re not navigating AI alone, but rather with the help of their peers, it can significantly reduce churn and improve overall morale. Break teams into working groups and give them a challenge that must be solved using AI. Make it a fun monthly expereince. If you want to double-down on the value of experiences, offer prizes for the winning team that are – you guessed it – experiences for the team to enjoy together.
Putting the Power Values to Work
These ideas are just thought-starters. Every business is unique, and you’ll need to adapt these concepts to These three Power Values—Personal Growth, Personal Responsibility, and Experiences—are just the beginning. The ideas I’ve outlined are thought-starters: you’ll come up with ways to expand on these that suit your particular situation or have more applicable ideas of your own. The beauty of shared values is that they provide a common language everyone in your organization can understand. By aligning your AI strategies with these values, you’ll make AI easier to adopt and create a workplace where people feel valued, engaged, and excited to come to work each day.
Why Shared Values Matter
We identified these Power Values using an extensive survey process and rigorous statistical analysis. Why do we focus on values? Because values drive everything people do, including choosing where to live, where to work, and how to lead their lives. When you know the values of your team, you know what motivates them and what keeps them engaged. And that’s the secret to successfully navigating the human risks of AI integration.
Because as exciting as AI is, it’s not just about the tech. It’s about the people. Aligning with their values will help you unlock a smoother, more human approach to the future of work.
Values are the answer. Let’s put them to work.
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