How To Use ChatGPT To Make More Informed And Better Decisions
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I’m getting ready to head out to Palm Beach, Florida where I will be joining the CEO of Edward Jones to talk about the future of leadership. My new book, Leading With Vulnerability is still doing very well and has perfect reviews on Amazon! I actually went down to the Barnes & Noble in Manhattan Beach which did a lovely promotion for my book.
Today I want to look at how you can use ChatGPT to make better and more informed decisions at work, especially if you’re a leader. This is actually one of the 10 ways leaders can use ChatGPT that I explore in my brand new course, Leadership GPT The Top 10 Ways You Can Use ChatGPT To Become A Better Leader.
For this example, let’s say you are trying to decide between sticking with a typical 5 day work schedule versus implementing a four-day work week. Instead of spend hours online research various reports, studies, and trying to quantify the pros and cons, you can go into ChatGPT and try the following prompt.
Analyze the potential outcomes of implementing a four- day workweek versus maintaining the current schedule in terms of productivity, employee satisfaction, and operational costs.
You’ll get back the following
**1. Productivity**
- **Four-Day Workweek:**
- **Pros:**
- **Increased Focus and Efficiency:** Employees may work more efficiently within a shorter timeframe, prioritizing tasks better and reducing time-wasting activities.
- **Reduced Burnout:** An extra day off can lead to better work-life balance, reducing burnout and potentially increasing overall productivity over the long term.
- **Cons:**
- **Compressed Workload:** Employees might feel pressured to complete the same amount of work in fewer hours, potentially leading to increased stress and hurried work.
- **Potential Delays:** Tasks requiring longer periods of continuous work might face delays, or the quality may suffer due to time constraints.
- **Current Schedule:**
- **Pros:**
- **Consistent Output:** The longer workweek allows for more steady progress on tasks, potentially leading to consistent productivity levels.
- **Familiar Routine:** Employees are accustomed to the current schedule, minimizing disruption and maintaining existing productivity patterns.
- **Cons:**
- **Risk of Burnout:** The longer workweek can lead to higher stress levels and burnout, which might decrease productivity over time as employees become fatigued.
**2. Employee Satisfaction**
- **Four-Day Workweek:**
- **Pros:**
- **Improved Work-Life Balance:** An extra day off can significantly enhance personal time, leading to higher job satisfaction and overall well-being.
- **Increased Morale:** Employees may feel more valued and appreciated with a shorter workweek, boosting morale and engagement.
- **Cons:**
- **Adjustment Period:** Some employees might find it challenging to adapt to the new schedule initially, which could temporarily impact satisfaction.
- **Current Schedule:**
- **Pros:**
- **Stability:** Employees are familiar with the current routine, providing a sense of stability and predictability.
- **Cons:**
- **Limited Personal Time:** Longer workweeks can negatively impact work-life balance, leading to lower satisfaction levels and potentially higher turnover rates.
**3. Operational Costs**
- **Four-Day Workweek:**
- **Pros:**
- **Potential Savings:** Reduced operational costs such as utilities, office maintenance, and commuting expenses due to fewer days in operation.
- **Decreased Absenteeism:** Improved employee satisfaction and work-life balance can lead to lower absenteeism rates, reducing associated costs.
- **Cons:**
- **Initial Implementation Costs:** Transitioning to a new schedule might incur one-time costs for planning, adjustment, and possible reallocation of resources.
- **Current Schedule:**
- **Pros:**
- **No Transition Costs:** Maintaining the status quo avoids any costs associated with changing the schedule.
- **Cons:**
- **Higher Ongoing Costs:** Continuous operational costs remain unchanged, which might be higher compared to a four-day workweek in the long run.
This is a great place to start but let’s say I wanted a way to quantify some of these things and put specific numbers and analysis around it. You can easily input some of your own stats to get a comprehensive breakdown, but for this example I asked for just a general breakdown and got the following.
Example Calculation:
A. Productivity Impact
- **Current Schedule:**
- Average productivity per employee per week: 40 units (tasks, projects, etc.)
- Number of employees: 100
- Total productivity: 40 units * 100 employees = 4,000 units per week
- **Four-Day Workweek:**
- Expected increase in productivity due to better focus: 10%
- Adjusted productivity per employee per week: 40 units * 1.10 = 44 units
- Total productivity: 44 units * 100 employees = 4,400 units per week
#### B. Employee Satisfaction
- **Current Satisfaction Score:**
- Average satisfaction score: 70 out of 100 (based on surveys)
- **Four-Day Workweek Satisfaction Score:**
- Expected increase in satisfaction: 15%
- Adjusted satisfaction score: 70 * 1.15 = 80.5 out of 100
#### C. Operational Costs
- **Current Costs:**
- Monthly operational costs: $50,000
- **Four-Day Workweek Costs:**
- Expected savings in operational costs: 20%
- Adjusted monthly operational costs: $50,000 * 0.80 = $40,000
- Monthly savings: $50,000 — $40,000 = $10,000
### Summary Table
| Metric | Current Schedule | Four-Day Workweek
| — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — -| — — — — — — — — — — — — -| — — — — — — — — — — — — — |
| Total Productivity | 4,000 units per week | 4,400 units per week
| Employee Satisfaction Score | 70 out of 100 | 80.5 out of 100
| Monthly Operational Costs | $50,000 | $40,000
| Monthly Savings | N/A | $10,000
By using specific numbers and data relevant to your company, you can make a more informed decision on whether to implement a four-day workweek and accurately project its potential impact.
Pretty cool right? You can use ChatGPT for analyzing customer data and deciding on ext steps to comparing short term and long term costs of flexible work programs to evaluating the pros and cons of acquiring or divesting a part of the business and much more.
It’s not AI that’s going to replace jobs, it’s going to be other people who know how to use AI better than you that are going to put you out of a job.
If you want to learn how to use ChatGPT to be a better leader, then I encourage you to sign up for the course here.
