In the rapidly evolving AI era, it’s easy to assume that everyone is on board with all of the different tools and advancements. But the truth is, even within the most tech-first organizations, resistance to AI can be a real and frustrating challenge. And yes, even in companies that develop AI, you can meet the sceptics—I’m speaking from my personal experience of running an AI startup.
If you’re leading a team in the age of AI, you’ve likely encountered this scenario: you introduce a new AI tool, full of excitement about its potential. But instead of shared enthusiasm, you’re met with rolling eyes. In the best-case scenario, your team openly voices their concerns, giving you a chance to create a smoother adoption process. But usually, you’re left with an expensive subscription that no one uses, while your team continues to rely on old-fashioned methods and wastes time on manual procedures. This is not just a misuse of resources but a rejection of progress. And as Charles Darwin said: “It’s not the strongest species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the most responsive to change.”
Understanding why your team is resisting AI
Let’s first try to understand the root causes of AI scepticism. Some employees might have tried using AI but found the results to be too generic or unhelpful, preferring instead the control and predictability of manual methods. Others might feel intimidated by the perceived learning curve, perhaps due to misconceptions about AI, believing it’s only for tech experts. Some may be concerned with privacy and data security—how their data will be used or where it might end up. There might even be a fear that AI could ultimately take their jobs. However, in today’s career landscape, resistance to AI could be a greater contributing factor to job insecurity than AI itself. Those who refuse to adapt may find themselves at a significant disadvantage in the job market.
I recall a job interview where a candidate excelled in almost every aspect, except for one crucial part that simply required a bit of research on definitions for legal terms. Curious about their problem-solving approach, I asked how they’d tackle this knowledge gap if they were hired tomorrow. To my surprise, the idea of leveraging AI didn’t even cross their mind. When I suggested it, they instantly dismissed the idea, citing their past experiences with AI conversational agents that yielded generic and unhelpful results.
But is a generic response truly worse than no response at all? Could an initial interaction with AI spark a deeper investigation that ultimately leads to a solution? They had no answer to this.
AI reality check: Addressing concerns and unlocking the full potential
The concerns about AI aren’t entirely unfounded. Early AI tools often fell short of expectations, delivering results that were generic and inaccurate. But sometimes even seemingly generic responses can be valuable. For example, imagine a hairstylist suggesting you shave your head to highlight your high cheekbones. While that might not be the style you’re going for, it could spark an idea: “I have high cheekbones, so maybe I should consider accentuating that feature”. Similarly, even a “bad” AI response can sometimes trigger a creative solution you might not have considered otherwise. But take it all with a grain of salt—and remember, you can’t be dissatisfied with the results of the work you didn’t do!
But, luckily, AI technology has evolved significantly since those early days. Today’s AI tools are far more sophisticated and capable of generating nuanced and personalized responses. In order to access these valuable results, developing strong people skills is necessary, allowing you to clearly articulate your goals, as well as sometimes “coach” the AI to refine its responses. Much like interacting with people, effective communication is key when “talking” with AI. Just as you wouldn’t expect a stranger to understand your needs without a proper explanation, AI requires instructions.
The quality of the result depends largely on the quality of the input, and this is where prompt engineering comes in. Prompt engineering is a new and valuable skill set. It’s about learning how to frame your requests in a way that elicits the most relevant responses from AI tools. By providing specific details, context, and a clear output format, you can steer AI toward generating more useful responses. But it’s important to remember that you can’t be lazy with AI. Just like with people, sometimes you need to be a bit more persuasive or ask a question multiple ways to get the desired outcome.
One other common fear is the concern that AI will eventually replace human jobs. However, the rise of prompt engineering paints a different picture. Take AI-generated photography, for example. While anyone can produce impressive images, the truly exceptional results come from skilled photographers who understand the nuances of the craft. To get the perfect AI-generated image, you need to be able to articulate your vision with precision, using the correct technical terms. This requires a deep understanding of photography concepts, like aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and more—knowledge that only a skilled photographer possesses.
So, while AI may not be stealing jobs, it’s certainly changing the way we work. AI can automate mundane tasks, freeing up professionals to focus on the creative and strategic aspects of their work.
Strategies to empower your team
Humans are creatures of habit, and any change is likely to be met with some resistance. It’s always easier to stick to the familiar comfort of existing workflows. To encourage your team to embrace AI, try these strategies:
- Normalize the use of AI in your team. Clearly communicate that the use of AI is encouraged for work-related tasks, outlining specific allowed use cases and establishing a clear policy. Make sure employees know they can experiment with AI without fear of being penalized.
- Begin with tasks where AI can provide immediate value. For example, use tools like Read.ai to automate meeting summaries, Otter.ai for transcriptions, or Gemini for polishing written email communication. Show your team how these small wins can free up valuable time and mental energy.
- Demonstrate your own use of AI in your daily work. If you’re not using AI yourself, why should your team? Share your experiences, both successes and failures, to normalize the learning process.
- Invest in AI ambassadors. Identify enthusiastic team members who can champion AI adoption, research new tools, and provide guidance and support to colleagues who are less familiar with AI.
- Offer workshops or training sessions on prompt engineering. Pay for online courses or bring in external specialists to share their expertise.
- Create a dedicated budget for AI tools and training. This demonstrates your commitment to investing in the future of your team and their professional development.
- Encourage your team to share their successful AI prompts and workflows. Create a central repository where everyone can contribute and learn from each other’s experiences. Consider using a browser extension like Briskine to streamline this process, allowing teams to easily share and collaborate on prompts.
- Celebrate wins. When AI delivers valuable results, make sure everyone knows about it. Create a Slack channel to showcase successful business results, highlighting how specific tools have contributed to the outcomes. You can also add a gamification element to it. The most impressive success stories win an extra day off—who wouldn’t want that?
- Be patient. Remember that not everyone adopts new technologies at the same pace. Don’t give up if the first attempt doesn’t yield results. If one tool doesn’t resonate with a team member, encourage them to explore other options.
The goal isn’t to force AI on your team but to share a vision of what’s possible, encourage them to explore its potential and inspire them to achieve more than they ever thought possible. While the journey to enthusiastic AI adoption may present challenges, by focusing on inspiration rather than obligation, you’ll empower your team to transcend the ordinary and unlock truly extraordinary results.
