Purple Acorn Network
AI Is Exposing the Biggest Lie About Workforce Productivity
January 14, 20267 min

AI Is Exposing the Biggest Lie About Workforce Productivity

About This Episode

AI is exposing the productivity problem leaders have ignored for years. Most organizations optimized for activity — not outcomes — and HR now owns the reset. As AI automates more work, it’s exposing a hard truth inside organizations: Much of what we’ve rewarded for years was never real productivity. Slide decks no one reads. Meetings that solve nothing. Reports created for optics, not outcomes. In this video, I break down how AI is revealing the BS economy at work — and why this moment is a critical reset for leaders, HR, and the C-suite. With over 20 years in HR leadership, I’m not here to hype tools or trends. I’m here to help leaders understand AI’s real impact on workforce strategy — and how to redesign work around outcomes, not activity. In this video, you’ll learn: Why AI is automating “busy work” — and why that’s a good thing What productivity studies are really showing (and what they’re not) Why speed without substance doesn’t drive results The leadership blind spot AI can’t fix for you How HR can lead the shift from visibility → value A practical 4-step action plan to redesign roles, workflows, and priorities AI can move faster than humans ever could but it can’t decide what actually matters. That responsibility still belongs to leaders. This is a call to stop scaling broken systems with smarter tools and start rebuilding work for impact, meaning, and growth. _________________________________ 🎯 Who this video is for: HR leaders & executives C-suite decision-makers People leaders navigating AI transformation Organizations serious about real productivity (not performative work) ⏱️ Chapter Timestamps 0:00 Why “Busy” Was Never the Same as Productive 0:45 Why I’m Calling This Out (20+ Years in HR Leadership) 1:45 AI and the Rise of the “BS Economy” 3:05 Why Faster Work Isn’t Better Work 4:10 The Productivity Stat No One Is Talking About 5:00 The Wake-Up Call AI Is Forcing on Leaders 6:15 HR’s Moment to Lead (Not Follow) 6:40 Audit the Busy Loop 7:10 Rebuilding Roles Around Impact 7:50 Why Managers Are the Bottleneck 8:20 Designing for Deep Work 8:55 Final Thought: Redesign. Don’t Repeat. 💬 Let’s discuss: Where do you see busy work hiding in your organization and what would you eliminate first? 🔔 Subscribe for more on: AI & workforce transformation People strategy for the future of work Leadership decisions that actually move the needle Redesign. Don’t repeat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices