Secret cyborg

Are you a secret cyborg?

I love when my one-on-ones stray from the planned agenda. When the conversation shifts from predictable Q&A to something messier. Question, answer, answer, question, question, question, no answer. That’s where big ideas emerge, and we explore solutions to questions we didn’t even know we had.

That’s exactly what happened two weeks ago in a one-on-one with one of my direct reports. Let’s call him Peter (not his real name).

Somewhere in the middle of our chat, the topic of using generative AI tools for day-to-day dev work came up.

I’m fully supportive of leveraging new tech to make our work more efficient and deliver better results. Honestly, I find it ridiculous not to.

So, I asked Peter how he uses AI.

His response was vague, and I didn’t fully understand what he meant.

Peter might be a secret cyborg.

What’s a secret cyborg?

It’s someone who’s comfortable using AI tools to boost their productivity but less comfortable admitting it.

But why? Why are talented, innovative professionals hiding their AI usage?

Here’s what I think (I don’t pretend to be 100% right here):

1. There’s no immediate benefit to sharing. If you can quietly get your work done faster or better with AI, why risk complicating things by telling your boss?

2. Impostor syndrome. Some people might think, “It’s not me; it’s the tool making me look good.” They see it as a weakness rather than an advantage.

3. Job security fears. Admitting that a machine helps with your work raises the question: Could my role be automated? (Spoiler alert: yes, parts of your job likely will be.)

4. Policy paralysis. Many companies have restrictive and unclear AI policies, which creates fear of accidentally violating the rules.

So, what can leaders do?

As leaders, we have a responsibility to create an environment where AI is seen as a superpower, not a threat.

1. Remove fear. People won’t share if they think they’ll be punished. Be clear about what’s allowed and lead by example. Share how you use AI to enhance your own productivity.

2. Reward innovation. Lack of punishment isn’t enough to drive change. Celebrate employees who creatively use AI to improve their work. Recognize them with cross-org visibility or even a simple shoutout.

3. Address the “now what?” If someone finds a way to do their job 50% faster, they might ask what happens to the saved time. Be transparent about how you’ll reinvest efficiency gains.

4. Set safeguards. AI, like humans, isn’t perfect; it makes mistakes (a lot). Establish clear guardrails to minimize risks and give your team confidence that they’re experimenting in a safe environment.

There are no easy answers here. We’re all learning as we go.

My takeaway? Don’t let fear hold you back from using AI tools, but follow the rules to stay out of trouble. Mistakes will happen, and that’s okay. Forgive yourself and others when things don’t go perfectly.

So, amigo, are you a secret cyborg?