Increase Productivity Without Killing Culture (Here’s How)

Written By Rebecca Sanchez

How to Use AI to Increase Productivity Without Killing Culture 

Let’s talk about a productivity killer no one admits: 

You get an email. It’s long. Maybe vague. Maybe off-track. 
You read it and feel… stuck. 
So you say, “I’ll deal with that later.” 
But later turns into never. 

And now someone on your team is stalled out, waiting on feedback you don’t know how to give.  

I used to do this a lot. 

Especially when the response required critique — and I didn’t know how to word it without hurting someone’s feelings, sounding too vague, or starting a bigger conversation I wasn’t ready for. 

But now, I don’t carry that weight. 
I open ChatGPT, drop in the email, and say: 
“Help me respond clearly and kindly. I like this part. This part missed the mark. I’m unsure how to say it. Draft a message that’s supportive and direct.” 

And just like that, the emotional clutter is gone. 
The team keeps moving. 
And culture stays healthy. 

This is what I mean when I say AI can increase productivity without killing culture. 

I’ve seen this same principle work in high-stakes strategy settings too.

I work with teams to draft vision and mission statements, and often, different voices in the room are stuck fighting over words. 

What used to take weeks now takes one session — with a timebox and a tool. 

Here’s what it looks like: 

  • Start with a rough AI-generated version 

  • Invite honest reactions — what works, what doesn’t 

  • Feed all that back into the tool 

  • Get a second version — cleaner, clearer, more aligned 

  • Repeat as needed — but faster, with less ego, more clarity 

The bonus? 

People feel heard. 
Buy-in skyrockets. 
And they move forward together. 

According to a 2023 Slack/Future Forum report, employees who feel they can give and receive timely feedback are 3.2x more likely to report high engagement. 

You don't need to work faster.

Just help humans actually show up for one another. 

Next week: “Warning Signs: When Efficiency Is Making Your Team Robotic” 

P.S. Want to see how I lead vision/strategy workshops using AI to align fast without burning out your team? Let’s talk.

Rebecca Sanchez
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How to Lead Through Uncertainty (Without Burning Out Your Team)