Your Copilot Adoption Guide: Find Your “Aha!” Moment When Implementing AI
AI is on the rise, and while we are excited to explore the possibilities ahead to increase efficiency and productivity and reach new horizons, implementing and adopting an AI tool like Microsoft Copilot can be quite a task.
When considering how I might use Copilot, I had to consider how I would adopt the tool, move past a "freeze" reaction, and become a more thoughtful user. The key lies in finding your "Aha!" moment. That instant when you connect what you know about Copilot with the challenge you're currently facing. This allows you to discover new, effective ways to use AI technology that is highly relevant and personal. These moments help users find value in the tool, leading to increased adoption and greater efficiency.
Let's look at some strategies to ensure a smooth implementation of Microsoft Copilot and boost adoption to drive innovation and efficiency.
Maintain a Growth Mindset
"Aha!" moments occur in proactive learning environments, and the best way to cultivate a strong learning environment is with a growth mindset. Do you say to yourself, "I'm never going to figure this out", "I can't do it", or "This is too hard"? If so, that's a fixed mindset that will keep you stuck right where you are. It's not going to feed into those beautiful "aha" moments, partly because you would have your walls up, closing yourself off to lightbulb moments.
The challenge becomes shifting your mindset and speaking to yourself through a growth mindset. Instead of using one of the phrases above, you can say something like "I need some help figuring this out", "I can't do this right now, but with time and practice I will be able to," or "This is a challenge for me and challenges help me learn and grow." This simple shift in belief can remind you and your team to keep a growth mindset.
Learning Through Scaffolding & the Zone of Proximal Development
Now that you have the right mindset and have properly set up Copilot in your environment, it's time to experience the tool. It's helpful to have the right foundational-level knowledge before diving in. When you jump into a swimming pool you put on a life jacket if you need it, or you at least check the depth of the pool so that you don't hit the concrete floor. Beginning with foundational knowledge prevents someone from jumping into the deep end and drowning.
If you work with Stoneridge, you can access our blog and YouTube channel to help you learn. You will find great resources on how to set yourself up for success with AI and Copilot, as well as practical lessons on using it. Additionally, you can talk to our team today about the Stoneridge Copilot Flight School. This offering is a training program that teaches clients how to use Copilot at work.
The goal here isn't to learn everything right away, it's to gain enough knowledge and experience with Copilot so you can apply your new skills with the right amount of encouragement and guidance. This follows the scaffolding learning approach and keeps the learner in the zone of proximal development. The best way to apply this concept is to use Copilot and get a feel for it. For example, a user could:
- Type in a prompt in Copilot
- Read a blog or watch a video about prompting well in Copilot
- Try prompting again in Copilot
- Email a question and talk with your team about prompting best practices
- Try prompting again and again
Now this user has the basics of the prompt structure and they can continue to build on that to increase their skill sets.
Practical Relevancy Drives Learning
People need new information relevant to their work to support learning retention. If you don't have a place to apply what you've just learned, you will forget it. When your organization begins learning about Copilot, team members must see how it can impact them in their work and daily tasks.
Copilot contains a prompt gallery to help you and your team get started. From there, you can start thinking about how it can help within the Microsoft 365 tools you already use like Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Word, and more. Additionally, Copilot can also be used within Dynamics 365 ERP and CRM solutions, helping you streamline processes and workflows across your business. Whether it's in HR, sales, marketing, IT, or on the production floor, Copilot can tangibly boost efficiency.
Find and Create Your Own "Aha!" Moments
If you work with Stoneridge as your Copilot partner, you will gain access to specific use cases that highlight Copilot's impact. However, working through Copilot on your own is where you will create momentum.
There needs to be some elements of autodidactic learning, also known as teaching yourself. Trying different things, and even stumbling along the way, is where learning and adoption occur. As a learning and development professional and someone who has worked with Copilot, it can be uncomfortable to get the "I'm sorry I couldn't do that" message. But that's where growth happens. Working through barriers, trying different approaches, and setting something aside temporarily doesn't mean defeat. It just means you are creating an environment for that "Aha!" moment to occur.
This process is known as "incubation." Essentially, when you set a task aside and turn your efforts to something else, your subconscious mind is likely still processing the first task or problem. Solutions often come to you seemingly out of nowhere in these moments, allowing you to consider new solutions or more effective ways to use Copilot.
These "aha!" moments allow the information to become extremely relevant and personal, helping the learner find value in the new tool. When a user finds success with Copilot in a specific situation, the lightbulb goes off in their mind, new connections are created in their brain as they learn how to think differently with their Copilot virtual assistant. These connections remain and, if nurtured, grow to increase adoption and efficiencies too.
Let Stoneridge Software Help You Find Your "Aha!" Moments
As you begin your Copilot journey, contact the Stoneridge Software team of experts. Our team has a tremendous amount of experience in helping clients get acclimated to new technologies to optimize usage and boost adoption.
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