Leadership and adoption
Resistance to AI: what lies behind it
Resistance isn't ill will. Behind "it won't work here" there are often fair questions. How to listen and respond.
5 min read
"It won't work for us." "It takes more time than it saves." "Soon they won't need us any more." Resistance to AI is normal. It's also useful, because it often hides fair questions.
Five forms of resistance
1. Worry about jobs. "Will AI take my job?" Be honest about your plans. If the aim is to lighten the load, say so, and stick to it.
2. Doubts about quality. "That AI gets things wrong." True. That's why you check. Acknowledge it and show how you deal with it.
3. Lack of time. "I don't have time to learn this." Also fair. Give people time to learn, and start with tasks that pay off quickly.
4. Craft. "My job is more than producing text." Absolutely. AI doesn't replace experience or judgement. Show how it actually frees up room for that expertise.
5. Privacy and trust. "What happens to our data?" Good question. Show your rules and your business terms.
How to respond
- Listen first. Ask what exactly worries someone.
- Acknowledge what's true. Not every concern is unfounded.
- Involve the sceptics. They spot risks the enthusiasts miss. Let them help with testing.
- Don't force it. Explanation, examples and time work better than an obligation.
- Stay honest about what AI means for tasks and jobs.
Test yourself
an experienced team member says AI "only makes mistakes". What's the best thing to do?
Prompt to copy
In our team I'm hearing these objections to AI: [list]. For each objection, help me with: 1) what might lie behind it, 2) what's fair about it, 3) how to respond in a conversation without persuading or dismissing, 4) one concrete step to address the concern.
