I help CEOs and boards fast track high-stakes strategies | Go to Market Strategist |Board Member|Speaker|41 articlesJune 27, 2023
Humans are worried that there’s a big alignment problem brewing for Artificial Intelligence (AI). If you’re leading a new strategy, you may be just as much at risk.
Brian Christian, author of The Alignment Problem: Machine Learning and Human Values, warns that unless AI is aligned with human values, machines will make their own decisions – and some we may not like! For instance:
o If you tell a self-driving car to go from point A to point B, it could run over a pedestrian jaywalking unless you are clear to value people over speed.
o If you ask an AI chatbot to field customer service calls, you’ll need to train it to value keeping customers or it could end up refusing to give returns to optimize profit, or spewing unexpected comments based on a customer’s buying history.
o If you ask AI to evaluate teachers based on student grades, it could end up rewarding teachers who game the system and terminate honest ones unless you train AI to value growth and improvement as much as the ultimate test scores.
It’s become obvious that humans need to start teaching AI how to make decisions aligned with a very clear set of values, or we are all going to have problems on our hands!
But heads up: If you are driving a new strategy, and haven’t gotten clear on your OWN core values, you can end up with an alignment problem too.
Your values guide how you evaluate options. (In fact, the root word of “evaluate” is the Latin valere, “to be of value, to be worthy”.) Every decision is made within a values framework.
In my work with organizations driving high-stakes strategies, I see boards and leadership teams assume they have common values. Yet, they never take the time to clarify what they mean and how they will apply them! These leaders may brainstorm some nice words and put them on conference room walls and splash them all over their website, but never actually incorporate those values into how they work. This lack of alignment results in inconsistent decision-making, confusion, and frustration among the ranks. It also erodes trust.
Defining your core values makes decision-making easier under stress.
When you’re in the leadership hot seat, making tough tradeoffs every day, decision-making can be arduous and stressful when you’re confused about what matters most. Clear values can help you prioritize, and make decisions more easily and with integrity. Your “yes” can mean “Yes!” and your “no” can mean “No!” without the stress of second-guessing yourself.
Children who grow up in families with a clear set of values are able to navigate difficult decisions more confidently as teenagers, and later when they are far from home. In the same way, employees faced with ethical decisions on the front line can more easily “do what’s right” when your organization is clear about what you value and holds open discussions about how your values should be applied in different real-world situations.
Getting clear on what you value will attract the right people.
Research by Qualtrics shows that values (especially honesty, integrity, respect, and well-being) are more important to workers than even higher pay. More than half of US employees (54%) would be willing to take less pay to be able to work at an organization whose values align with their own.
Another study by Blue Beyond Consulting reported that over 70% of respondents, from nearly every age group, region, company size, and demographic group, say their employer has the obligation to be “a force for good”. But purpose-led organizations have to work especially hard at communicating their values and training people to live them out, encouraging values-based decision-making that not only considers revenues and profit but the impact decisions have on people, the planet, and eternity.
Knowing your core values requires being intentional.
Nehemiah Entrepreneurship Community is a global nonprofit I’m involved with that equips entrepreneurs to build values-based businesses. They guide every founder to spend the time to get really clear on their own life purpose and values – even before drafting a business plan! By knowing your values and making sure your business strategy is aligned right from the start, they find entrepreneurs will make decisions more easily, enjoy their work more, lead others with integrity, and navigate the roller coaster of building a new business grounded in what matters.
Getting clear on your core values requires reflection. Here are two tools I’ve found helpful:
o One fun way to think through your values is by playing cards! Instead of starting with a blank piece of paper, the “Live Your Values Deck: Sort Out, Honor and Practice What Matters Most to You” is an actual deck of cards that helps consider which of 73 values resonate most with you, and provides ideas how each value applies in the real world. The deck can also be used as a group exercise to foster conversation about what your organization values most.
o A thought-provoking workbook I’ve found powerful is Identity and Destiny – 7 Steps to a Purpose-Filled Life”. by Tom and Pam Wolf. The workbook systematically steps you through discovering your God-given purpose by looking at your unique gifts, your personality and resilience profiles, your passions, and your values. Group discussions using this workbook can be life-changing.
While there may be a lot of work to do for humans to train AI what we value – the real work starts with each of us!
If you are leading a high-stakes strategy, the faster you get clear on what you value personally, and help your organization get aligned to make decisions based on meaningful core values, the faster you can speed results — and enjoy the journey along the way!
I’d welcome hearing about your own experiences getting “the alignment problem” right!
–Susan Schramm
This article is part of my newsletter, which equips and energizes leaders with practical ways to move forward, whether leading a new strategy or getting one back on track. Subscribe if you’d like insights like this one or twice a month.
Explore my website, www.gotomarketimpact.com, to learn more about my upcoming book, “FastTrack Your Big Idea!” as well as my offerings to help you and your team clarify your strategy and get results faster. Or message me, and let’s connect! susan.schramm@gotomarketimpact.com.
