How to launch AI at your organization
If you’ve ever worked on any sort of change effort, whether it’s personal or professional, it can feel like you’re pushing a boulder uphill. You've got a vision, a powerful new idea, but getting others to budge feels like an impossible feat. That initial resistance, the hesitant glances and outright "no's" – it's a familiar hurdle for anyone trying to introduce something truly different. But what if the key isn't brute force, but rather understanding the subtle currents that draw people towards change?
Tendayi Viki’s work offers a powerful lens through which to view this process of organizational change, particularly when it comes to something as transformative as AI adoption. He suggests that instead of trying to force widespread implementation from the outset, the key is to cultivate a groundswell of support that naturally attracts others. It’s about building understanding and trust, not just deploying a new system. You have to win minds before you can earn commitment.
Finding Your AI Pioneers: Connecting with Those Ready for the Future
Consider the early days of the internet. Not everyone immediately saw its value. But there were individuals – the tech enthusiasts, the forward-thinkers – who were excited by its potential to connect and inform. They were the early adopters who explored its possibilities without needing extensive convincing.
Similarly, within your organization, there will be individuals who are naturally curious about AI, perhaps already exploring its applications or expressing interest in how it could improve their workflows. Your goal isn't to immediately convert the AI-skeptical masses, but to connect with these "AI pioneers" who are already open to its potential and understand the need for evolution.
Simple Switch: Instead of a broad announcement about the new AI initiatives, identify individuals known for their innovative mindset or those who have voiced frustrations with current inefficiencies. Have direct conversations about their challenges and explore how AI might offer genuine solutions. Listen to their initial ideas and involve them early in the process.
Creating Early AI Wins: Showing Tangible Value, Reducing Fear
Imagine those early internet users finding valuable information, connecting with others, or automating tedious tasks. These tangible benefits solidified their belief in the technology and encouraged them to explore further.
The same principle applies to AI adoption. If the first employees to use AI tools experience clear benefits – it automates repetitive tasks, provides valuable insights, or improves decision-making – they become powerful advocates. These early AI wins provide concrete evidence of the technology's value and can help alleviate the natural fear and uncertainty that often accompanies significant change.
Simple Switch: Collaborate with your AI pioneers to tackle specific, manageable problems they face using AI tools. Focus on delivering clear and measurable improvements quickly. Ensure these successes are visible within their teams and that the positive impact is communicated clearly. These early wins are your proof points, demonstrating AI's practical value.
Sharing the AI Success Stories: Making the Benefits Real and Relatable
When people talk about how the internet has changed their lives – connecting them with family, enabling new ways of learning, or streamlining their work – these personal stories are far more impactful than a list of technical specifications.
Viki’s emphasis on narrative is crucial for AI adoption. When your early AI adopters share their experiences of how AI has positively impacted their work, making it more efficient, insightful, or even more engaging, it creates a relatable and authentic connection for others. They can envision themselves benefiting in similar ways, reducing their apprehension.
Simple Switch: Encourage your early AI users to share their success stories in team meetings, internal newsletters, or even short video testimonials. Let them explain in their own words how AI has made a tangible difference in their day-to-day work. This humanizes the technology and makes its benefits more accessible.
Building AI Momentum: When Curiosity Overcomes Hesitation
Think about how social media platforms grew. Initially, a small group connected, but as more people saw the value in staying connected and sharing information, adoption snowballed. The positive experiences of early users fueled broader participation.
Similarly, as your early AI adopters achieve success and share their positive experiences, more employees within the organization will become curious about how AI could benefit them. Seeing colleagues effectively using these tools and hearing about the positive outcomes will naturally draw others in, overcoming initial hesitation or fear of the unknown.
Simple Switch: As interest in AI grows, connect those who are curious with your early AI champions. Facilitate opportunities for them to ask questions, see demonstrations, and hear firsthand about the positive impact. This peer-to-peer interaction can be far more effective than top-down mandates in fostering understanding and acceptance.
Tendayi Viki’s insights are particularly relevant in the context of AI adoption. Instead of simply deploying AI tools and expecting people to jump on board or worse, forcing it— consider a focus on cultivating a community of early believers, demonstrating tangible value through early wins, and amplifying their positive experiences. By winning minds through understanding and shared success, we pave the way for genuine commitment and lasting AI adoption across the organization.
Our studio helps businesses evolve without sacrificing authenticity in the digital age. If you’re curious about what this could mean for your your organization, book a free consult on our home page or reach out to our studio manager at hello@boldtype.is.
You got this!
Noelle ✨
