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- 80% of people don't like Mondays
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Aloha friends! 👋
Feeling those Sunday blues? Dreaming of a work life that doesn't make you want to hide under the covers? You're in the right place! This week, we're diving deep into beating the Sunday Scaries, plus globetrotting with our AI Maturity Index, and showcasing some mind-blowing HR transformations.
Let's rewrite your work story with a splash of AI magic!
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😰 Sunday Scaries: How To Battle the Weekend Blues Using AI?
Two weeks ago I shared a LinkedIn poll about the "Sunday Scaries". The results are in, and they're eye-opening.
A whopping 80% of us experience that creeping dread as the weekend fades and Monday looms.
According to a LinkedIn study, it is even more prevalent among younger generations, with 90% of Gen Z and millennials reporting these feelings.
But why is this happening? There are many reasons, but five common causes of the Sunday Scaries are:
Increased stress
Burnout
A toxic work environment
Uncertainty and change
Sleep disruption
It’s not easy to overcome them, it’s a long process but our community has come through with some fantastic life hacks to beat those blues, and… I added AI-powered aspects to some of them.
General
Root Cause Analysis: Add a step to identify the specific reasons for your Sunday Scaries. Is it a particular project, a colleague, or a general dissatisfaction? Understanding the source is crucial for effective solutions.
Digital Detox: Suggest gradually disconnecting from work-related communications over the weekend to create a true mental break.
Mindful Planning
Smart Buffer Day Implement a no-meetings policy on Mondays or Fridays and use an AI scheduling assistant to automatically decline or reschedule any meeting requests for this day.
Tasks:
Create a list of Monday tasks on Friday to disconnect over the weekend and hit the ground running. Use an AI-powered task management tool like Asana to create an Eisenhower Matrix, helping you prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance.
Try setting up a Project with Claude.ai, where you keep all context). This can help reduce the uncertainty that often fuels the Sunday Scaries and give you a clear action plan for the week ahead.
Instead of just planning tasks, focus on setting meaningful, achievable goals that align with personal values and career aspirations.
Sunday Rituals
Self-Care: Engage in activities that boost your mood - sports, cold plunges, or simply focusing on past wins and future goals. Consider using an AI-powered mood tracking app to identify patterns in your Sunday Scaries and receive personalized recommendations for managing anxiety.
Weekly Planning Sessions: Set aside time each Sunday to review your accomplishments from the past week and outline your goals for the upcoming week. This practice can foster a sense of achievement and direction, reducing anxiety about what lies ahead.
Writing
Daily Journaling: Spend a few minutes writing down your thoughts and feelings about the upcoming week. This can help you process your emotions and identify specific stressors that you can address proactively.
Positive Affirmations: Create a list of positive affirmations or reminders of your past successes to read on Sunday evenings. This can help combat negative thoughts and boost your confidence as you head into the new week.
Personal growth
Skill Development: Include a point about continuous learning. Feeling more competent in your role can reduce anxiety. Suggest resources or courses related to your field.
Networking and Mentorship: Add a suggestion to build professional relationships. Having a support system at work can make Mondays less daunting.
Physical Health Focus: Expand on the self-care point to include sleep hygiene and nutrition. These factors significantly impact mood and anxiety levels.
Mindfulness Practices: While journaling is good, consider adding other mindfulness practices like meditation or breathing exercises specifically designed for work-related stress.
Monday Rewards: Set up a small reward for yourself on Monday, such as treating yourself to your favorite coffee or lunch. Having something to look forward to can make the transition from weekend to workweek feel less daunting.
Remember, it's okay to not be okay, and prioritizing mental health is crucial.
Consider seeking professional help if Sunday Scaries persist, as they could be a sign of more serious issues like burnout or depression (!!!).
🌍 AI Maturity Index: Conferences Tour (Update #6)
Conference Tour: I'm thrilled to announce that I'll be presenting the first findings of our AI Maturity Index at three conferences across three continents:
GAIN Summit in Riyadh 🇸🇦 (September 10-12th)
HRM Festival in Ljubljana 🇸🇮 (September 17th)
South Summit in South Korea 🇰🇷 (September 25-27th)
If you're attending any of these events, I'd love to connect! Hit me up on LinkedIn or drop me an email at [email protected].
AIMI is growing: Speaking of exciting developments, I'm thrilled to share an update on the growth of our AI Maturity Index users. The response has been nothing short of phenomenal! 🚀
What excites me most about this growth is not just the numbers, but what they represent: a growing community of professionals eager to harness the power of AI to work smarter, not harder. Each new user brings unique insights and experiences, enriching our understanding of AI's impact across different sectors and roles. Stay tuned for more updates!
🪄 How 3 HR Teams Revolutionizing Work with AI (case studies)
Now, let's shift gears to some inspiring AI use cases shared by professionals across various industries. First of all, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our incredible interviewees. Alina Jesien from Ergeon, Heather Doshay from SignalFire, and Leah Knobler from Help Scout - your insights and experiences are invaluable 🙏
So, without further ado, let's explore how these visionary teams are using AI to work smarter, not harder. Prepare to be amazed and inspired!
🎓 Case Study #1: Revolutionizing Sales Training with AI
Company: Ergeon
Industry: Human Resources / Sales
Interviewee: Alina Jesien, Senior Director of HR
The Challenge
Ergeon faced a common dilemma in sales training: how to provide realistic, scalable practice opportunities for new hires without overburdening senior team members.
The Solution: SMTP for Sales Bootcamps
Ergeon implemented an AI tool that acts as a "Sales Mock Training Platform” to simulate customer interactions during their sales bootcamps.
Implementation Process
1. Invested significant time in training the AI on specific scenarios, including customer profiles, personas, locations, products, and common objections.
2. Documented processes and scenarios in detail to ensure AI accuracy.
Results
- Graduation Rate: Increased to over 80%
- Ramp-up Time: Drastically reduced for new hires
- Performance: New graduates now perform on par with tenured team members
- Resource Allocation: Enabled larger, less frequent bootcamps with higher success rates
Key Benefits
1. Unlimited practice opportunities for trainees
2. Reduced time commitment from senior team members
3. More confident and skilled graduates
4. Improved overall team performance
Future Plans
Ergeon is developing an AI bot integrated with Slack to provide instant access to HR policy and benefit information, further streamlining internal operations.
By leveraging AI for sales training, Ergeon has not only improved the efficiency of their onboarding process but also enhanced the quality of their sales team, leading to better overall performance.
📝 Case Study 2: Enhancing Communication with AI
Company: SignalFire
Industry: Venture Capital
Interviewee: Heather Doshay, Partner
The Challenge
In a remote work environment, clear and effective written communication is crucial. Heather needed a way to refine her writing to build stronger relationships with team members and founders.
The Solution: Grammarly's AI Features
Heather integrated Grammarly (SignalFire is an investor), particularly its generative AI features, into her workflow.
Implementation Process
- Gradually incorporated Grammarly into daily email writing
- Focused on using features like tone adjustment and concision improvements
Results
- Conciseness: Improved ability to convey messages effectively with fewer words
- Tone Awareness: Enhanced understanding of how written communication might be perceived
- Relationship Building: Forged stronger, more trusting relationships with teammates and founders
Key Benefits
1. More effective asynchronous communication
2. Improved trust-building in remote work environments
3. Enhanced self-awareness in written communication
Future Outlook
Heather is excited about AI's potential to:
1. Boost productivity by automating administrative tasks
2. Provide insights into personal and teamwork patterns
3. Improve task prioritization for a more fulfilling work experience
AI-powered writing tools like Grammarly can significantly enhance communication in remote work settings, leading to stronger professional relationships and more effective collaboration.
🎥 Case Study 3: AI-Assisted Hiring Process
Company: Help Scout
Industry: Customer Service Software
Interviewee: Leah Knobler, VP of People
The Challenge
Help Scout needed to improve the efficiency, transparency, and quality control of their hiring process, particularly in a remote setting.
The Solution
Help Scout integrated Metaview.ai, an AI tool that transcribes and summarizes Zoom interviews.
Implementation Process
1. Set up Metaview.ai integration with Zoom
2. Introduced the platform to hiring teams
3. Incorporated transcriptions and summaries into the hiring workflow
Results
- Efficiency: Streamlined interview process with easy access to transcriptions and summaries
- Transparency: Ensured accurate and fair feedback by enabling review of interview recordings
- Quality Control: Enhanced candidate experience through consistent interview conduct
- Interviewer Training: Improved interview techniques by allowing team members to review and learn from recordings
Key Benefits
1. More accurate assessment of candidates
2. Enhanced interviewer performance
3. Improved decision-making in the hiring process
AI tools like Metaview.ai can transform the hiring process, making it more efficient, transparent, and effective, particularly in remote work environments.
That’s all for today! Until next time - keep innovating and working smarter with AI! 🌟
Mahalo,
Iwo
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