AI is changing the way we work. It is helping us communicate quicker and manage increasing workloads with greater efficiency. From drafting emails to summarising meetings, AI tools are becoming part of our daily workplace.
But as AI becomes more rooted in our daily lives, another workplace challenge is emerging: how do we ensure we still treat people like people?
The concern is becoming increasingly relevant. A recent article in Harvard Business Review explored how AI may be reshaping workplace relationships. The article notes that while AI can improve productivity, it also risks “outsourcing the very moments that create connection.” Moreover, a 2025 survey from Pew Research Center found that 50% of respondents (out of over 5,000 participants) said they believe AI will reduce the ability of people to form meaningful relationships.
Workplace culture is built through communication. The way leaders write emails, respond in meetings, give feedback, and hold conversations shapes how employees experience work every day. And in some ways, that communication is already beginning to shift.
The Shift Towards Transactional Communication
Since the emergence of AI tools in the workplace, we are already seeing communication patterns change. Short, command-style messaging is becoming more common, with phrases such as “send this,” “need this today,” and “rewrite this.”
This style is efficient in an AI prompt bar, as AI tools are built to respond to commands. But when that same tone moves into workplace communication, conversations can begin to feel transactional instead of human.
This concern is not entirely new. When voice assistants like Siri and Alexa first became mainstream, researchers and media raised questions about how quickly politeness disappeared from everyday speech. People became used to speaking to technology in curt, demanding language.
Today, AI is introducing a similar dynamic into workplace communication. Communication habits tend to spill over. If we spend hours each day pushing commands to our devices, our language could slowly become more transactional even when we’re talking to people.
Why Conversational Communication Matters
As communication becomes more transactional, it becomes less attentive. It’s easier to multitask, respond quickly without thinking, and move on without fully engaging.
This amplifies an existing workplace challenge: divided attention. Even when people are physically present in meetings, they are often mentally elsewhere—checking messages, multitasking during virtual calls, or splitting their focus across multiple screens.
At the same time, it’s easy to forget that communication starts before we speak. Body language, facial expressions, tone, posture, and attention all shape how a message is received. Even online, people can quickly sense when communication feels rushed or impersonal.
That is why a conversational approach matters more than ever. In our article on conversational communication, we discuss how effective communication is about building rapport, being engaged, and showing that every interaction you’re in matters.
When leaders communicate this way, they create stronger relationships, build trust, and encourage real dialogue within their teams.
Four Ways Leaders Can Keep Communication Human
1. Don’t Let AI Tone Become Your Tone
AI prompts are designed for efficiency. Human conversations are designed for connection.
Before sending a message to a teammate, pause and read it back. Does it sound conversational? Does it sound like something you would naturally say in person? Small changes in wording can shift the tone significantly.
Here’s an example. Instead of typing: “Send me the report.” Try: “Hey, could you send me the report when you have a chance? Thanks.”
2. Use AI to Support Communication, Not Replace It
AI can absolutely help leaders organise ideas, summarise notes, or prepare for difficult conversations. However, it should help your communication, not substitute it entirely.
The HBR article highlights growing employee concerns around authenticity. Employees are increasingly asking themselves: am I communicating with my colleague, or with AI? When every email sounds identical and overly polished, trust begins to erode. Leaders should ensure their communication still reflects their own voice.
3. Attention Is Part of Courtesy
One of the simplest workplace habits still goes a long way: giving someone your full attention.
This means putting phones away during meetings, maintaining eye contact during virtual calls, and actively listening instead of multitasking in the background.
Even the physical environment matters. Something as simple as placing a laptop between yourself and a colleague can unintentionally create distance in a conversation. Communication is shaped by more than words alone.
4. Keep the Basics of Professional Courtesy
As workplaces become faster and increasingly digital, simple etiquette becomes even more important.
Saying please and thank you. Asking thoughtful questions. Acknowledging someone’s effort. Leaving room for dialogue instead of simply delivering instructions. These habits may seem small, but they shape workplace culture every day.
People shouldn’t feel like they’re managed by prompts. They want conversations that feel respectful and genuine.
Conclusion
Amy Gallo’s central point in her HBR article is that workplace relationships are built through thousands of small, imperfect interactions. AI doesn’t just streamline those moments, it outsources them. We end up, as she puts it, “asking a machine to do the relationship work that only humans can do.”
AI will continue transforming how we work, but strong workplace relationships will always depend on authentic human connection. And that’s something that can’t be automated.
