The Human Element: A Non-Technical Guide to Working with AI

The Human Element: A Non-Technical Guide to Working with AI

Transform Your Career Using the Skills You Already Have

Eroll Chimanga

Copyright © 2024 by Eroll Chimanga

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

Contents

Part 1: Foundation and Mindset

1.Embracing the AI Revolution

2.The Power of Non-Technical Skills in AI

3.AI Reality Check

Part 2: Essential Skills and Tools

4.Getting Started with AI Tools

5.The AI Learning Curve

Part 3: Making AI Work for You

6.Working with AI in Teams

7.Using AI Responsibly

8.Getting Started with AI Projects

Part 4: Advancing Your AI Journey

9.Making the Most of Your AI Tools

10.Growing with AI

11.Building Your Career with AI

Appendix A: Resources for Non-Technical Professionals

Appendix B: AI Tool Implementation Guide

Part 1: Foundation and Mindset

Chapter one

Embracing the AI Revolution

Understanding Your AI Anxiety

Surely you remember how you felt when you first saw smartphones? Do you remember when they were a bit complicated—or maybe a little unnecessary? It’s hard to imagine life without one now, right? Technology evolves in a fairly simple way: The internet changed how we receive information, electronic devices changed how we communicate, the cloud changed how we save information & share data, and today AI is changing the way we work and think.

When was the last time any news story about AI didn't make you cringe? Maybe it was about AI writing better marketing text than humans, handling better customer service than your team, or making financial predictions faster than your analysts.

Do you think it's been too long to start using AI? Or that you are too far behind the curve? Breathe. If you're a marketing manager, an HR professional, or a business analyst and you're impressed by how fast AI can create content or by how ChatGPT processes numbers faster than Excel, I understand how you feel. Do you find yourself fascinated but worried? It is normal and it matters a lot.

The Truth About AI and Your Job

Here’s something important that you might not find in other books: It's not the AI itself that will replace your job; it's the person who knows how to use AI effectively who will outshine you. This is not meant to scare you; it is meant to empower you. Unlike what some may suggest, I am not going to try to overcome or eliminate your anxiety. Instead, I will take a different approach: I will make it your competitive advantage.

Your Doubts About AI Can Be a Superpower

Interestingly, those that are a bit sceptical about AI tend to do a better job than those who are gung ho and jump in immediately. What is the reason? They focus on the important questions: 

But how will this really work in everyday situations?

What are the possible issues in this situation?

What impact will this have on our customers?

What are we not considering?

These are not just anxious thoughts; they are the key questions that make sure AI projects succeed. While many people are eager to put everything into action, you are considering the

The New Reality of AI Experience

Let's tackle the elephant in the room: yes, companies are asking for AI experience. But here's what most people don't realise—you probably already have more AI experience than you think.

Think about your phone. You're already using AI when you:

Get email suggestions for responses

Use face recognition to unlock your device

Have your photos automatically organised

Get traffic-aware directions

That's all AI. You're not just using it; you're adapting to it, evaluating it, and making decisions about when to trust it. That's a valuable experience.

Being Real with AI

Here's something refreshing, you don't need to pretend you're an AI expert. In fact, being authentic about your AI journey can be your strength. When you're learning to work with AI tools, treat them like a collaborative partner. Share your actual challenges, be specific about your goals, and don't be afraid to admit what you don't know. This vulnerability often leads to better results than pretending you have all the answers.

A Simple Way to Start

Let's do something practical. Grab a piece of paper (yes, go and get one—this works better than just thinking about it). Write down your three biggest worries about AI in your field. Be specific. Instead of AI will replace jobs, write something like I'm worried AI will make my financial analysis skills obsolete.

For each worry, write down:

The human skill that makes you aware of this potential problem

A real situation where this awareness could help in an AI project

One question you'd want answered before implementing AI in this area

This isn't just a feel-good exercise; you're actually building the beginning of your AI professional toolkit. Those questions you're writing? They're the same ones AI project managers need to ask. Those concerns you're highlighting? They're the insights that AI teams are desperately searching for.

Moving Forward: Your New AI Guide

Think of your anxiety as a guide, not a barrier. It identifies areas where human understanding is needed for AI development. And while many are learning programming languages, you are learning something just as important: practical experience and understanding of people that AI cannot replicate.

You start your trip into AI without forgetting what you already know or ignoring your worries. The first step is to realise that your unique human point of view, complete with your worries, might be just what the AI business needs right now.

Remember that the aim is to not be just like AI. The aim is to be 100% genuinely human in an environment where AI takes care of the everyday chores. How about that journey? It begins with recognising your natural responses with regards to this evolution in technology.

Before we continue, think about this: What if your worries about AI are not a barrier but rather steering you to discover your own unique role in the field?

In the next section, we will start to look at how to turn your worries into professional opportunities. More importantly, I will aim to guide you in discovering your cause—your why, which will significantly impact your AI journey.

***

Turning Fear into Opportunity

Do you remember the worries you noted in the previous section? Let's change them into something powerful using a method I call the Four E's of AI Opportunity. First, let's make something clear.

A Brief Note on AI Tools

When AI is mentioned in this book, I'm not talking about a technology that is far away in the future. I'm talking about tools that are already available for everyone to use right now. Here are some of the most popular ones:

ChatGPT: Is your intelligent conversation partner for writing, analysis, and problem-solving

Google Gemini: Very strong with real-time information and research

Claude by Anthropic: Excellent for longer, more detailed analysis and complex tasks

Microsoft Copilot: Is seamlessly integrated with Microsoft Office tools for daily work support

Important Note: The AI landscape changes rapidly. These tools will probably keep being essential, but their capabilities and features might have improved by the time you read this. Make sure you check the latest versions and features of these tools. The ideas and methods we go through will be helpful, whatever tools you choose to use.

Imagine these AI tools as handy assistants that can do things for you but still need your direction and knowledge. Not all of the tools are needed. Actually, starting with just one will let you use some of the strategies we discuss.

The Four E’s: Your Framework for Success

1. Efficiency: Creating Space for What's Important 

Do you remember that old saying about working smarter, not harder?? That will be our starting point. But here's what most books miss: AI-powered success isn't about accelerating work. It's about giving space to things that need human attention.

Real-world Example: Imagine you work in marketing and