Why I Believe Successful AI Change Depends on People, Not Just Technology
- donlscott
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
“More than half (51%) of professionals say learning AI feels like another job, and there’s been an 82% increase in people posting on LinkedIn about feeling overwhelmed and navigating change this year.
"The mounting pressure to upskill in AI is fueling insecurity among professionals at work — with a third (33%) admitting they feel embarrassed by how little they understand it, and 35% saying they feel nervous talking about AI at work for fear of sounding uninformed.
"Navigating change is impacting confidence and wellbeing. More than four in 10 (41%) professionals say the current pace of AI change is taking a toll on their wellbeing.”
As a certified practitioner in change management and a communications professional, I empathize deeply with these findings. Change is often not easy nor desirable; sometimes it’s difficult and unwelcome, and it does not happen at the same pace for everyone. That is what makes key people within our orbits so critical.
When people are asked to change — to move from a current state to a transitional state — success depends on both leadership and trust. I’ve seen change succeed when three elements are consistently in place:
Visible Sponsorship – Leaders must actively model and champion the change.
Trusted Change Champions – Individuals need supportive peers they can lean on for guidance and encouragement.
Empathetic Communication – Clear messaging about the why of change, paired with active listening, training, and feedback, reduces resistance and builds confidence.
When companies commit to organizational change, it only happens successfully when individual change is collectively successful. AI isn’t just about technology — it’s about people. Supporting people through uncertainty with trust, empathy, and structure is what makes transformation sustainable.
👉 How is your workplace helping employees navigate AI change?
(As an aside, I believe that AI is “intimidating” for anyone who worries about how this technological phenomenon will be used, whether safety guardrails will be implemented, and who/what will be enforcing these safeguards.)
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