For the last 12 years, I’ve been asking audiences a simple question: “How do you want to feel when you leave work every day?” And every time, the answers are the same: “I want to feel accomplished — like I got something done” or “I want to feel like my work today made a difference.” The consistency of these answers reveals the simple truth: Employees want to work at places where they can succeed. And when they succeed, it builds energy and momentum.

Employee Experience Peaks When People Have Good Days At Work

Arguably the most important insight from all my years studying employee experience (EX) through the work of scientists, EX leaders, and practitioners is that EX peaks when people have good days at work — days when they’re succeeding not just in their work but also in their careers and their personal lives.

The Problem: A Flurry Of AI Enablement Initiatives And Struggling Projects

Predictably, demand for new AI-driven capabilities is surging, creating a two-part problem for tech leaders. On one hand, employees and teams are experimenting with AI-driven capabilities — with or without permission, guidance, and support from their employers. On the other hand, this limits what they can accomplish because they typically can’t use company data and systems in their experiments. Yet this is where differentiation and competitive advantage will come from.

The Solution: An AI-Enabled Digital Employee Experience (DEX) Strategy

An AI-enabled digital employee experience strategy provides a framework that encourages experimentation while directing limited company resources — such as access to internal systems and data — toward projects that will have the most impact on business outcomes. Companies with AI-empowered workforces can respond more quickly to market changes, customer needs, and competitive threats. The ability to rapidly analyze situations, generate solutions, and communicate effectively across the organization becomes a sustainable competitive advantage. A digital employee experience (DEX) strategy combines organizational capabilities with a supporting process that’s easy to follow and delivers results, including:

  • Accelerated innovation cycles. When employees can rapidly prototype ideas, conduct research, and test concepts using AI assistance, the organization’s innovation velocity increases rapidly. The time from idea to initial validation shrinks from weeks to hours, enabling more experimental approaches and faster iteration cycles.

  • Distributed strategic thinking. Traditionally, strategic analysis was centralized in planning departments or executive teams, but generative AI enables the distribution of strategic thinking throughout the organization. For example, frontline employees can contribute market insights, operational improvements, and customer intelligence that can inform high-level decision-making.

  • Quality standardization without bureaucracy. AI can help ensure consistent quality and compliance without creating bureaucratic bottlenecks. Employees receive real-time guidance on best practices, regulatory requirements, and organizational standards — reducing the need for multiple approval layers while maintaining governance.

Come See Us In November

This is the opportunity of a lifetime for technology leaders to do career-defining work in helping their companies channel energy and limited resources into AI projects wisely. To help them do this, I’ll be leading a breakout session on AI-enabled DEX at Forrester’s Technology & Innovation Summit North America this November.

I’ll share our latest learnings that you can use to develop a practical strategy that works for your organization. I’ll also share real examples from companies around the world and offer insights into the latest tools and techniques, such as AI-powered deep listening, incubator teams, and more. I’ll also give you a model that you can adapt to your organization’s needs.