Here are three concise title options: • What a “Productivity” Workshop Taught Me About Using AI With Purpose • The Real Value of an AI Workshop: Clarity Before Tools • From Buzzwords to Business Impact: My Takeaways on Applying AI Effectively
Yesterday I attended a four‑hour workshop at the UCL School of Management called Unlock Your AI Productivity. As an early‑stage business owner, I went in expecting hands‑on tools to reduce repetitive work, automate tasks I tend to avoid, and generally boost productivity.
Instead, the session leaned far more towards theory than practical application. The title felt designed to grab attention, but the content didn’t quite deliver on the promise—something several other participants also mentioned. I wouldn’t be surprised if the title itself had been AI‑generated: catchy, but not entirely aligned with the workshop’s actual focus, which was more about thinking about AI’s role inside an organisation rather than using it directly.
That said, the time wasn’t wasted. As founders, we rarely carve out four uninterrupted hours to think about how our businesses operate. The workshop gave me space to reflect on where AI could genuinely help and what meaningful outcomes might look like if we applied it to the right problems.
One key reminder stood out: AI is only useful when it’s applied to a clear, well‑defined business challenge that’s tied to a bigger goal.
For example:
Goal: Become more efficient in how we recruit learners to Startup School for Seniors.
Challenge: Recruitment is time‑consuming, relies too heavily on a couple of media channels, and involves multiple manual steps.
We were then asked why this challenge actually matters. In our case: greater efficiency could mean recruiting more learners, freeing up time for other priorities, and being more appealing to funders.
A helpful reflection prompt was: What would change in your business if this challenge were solved? Increased revenue? More capacity? Better customer experience?
Once we clarified this, we could finally map out the specific problem we wanted AI to solve and sketch an implementation plan. This feels like the real takeaway: identify the challenge, understand the outcome you want, and then decide which AI tools, data and processes you need to make it happen.
The workshop was organised by Be the Business, and their next session—Is Your CRM Working for You?—takes place on 13 January. It’s free, and you can register here:
Dates for your Diary
Tomorrow (20th December) is the Moving Forward Group call. For Paid Subscribers only. Join us to share a business win, a business challenge, or to network with fellow members of the Get Work Done Club. It runs from 10 am - 11 am. Non-Members pay £5.
December 2025
20th Moving Forward Group
