Gaining Buy-in for AI in Your Workplace

Explore how to get employee buy-in and unlock AI’s potential in the workplace.

Would you like to get more employee support and reduce resistance to changes like bringing AI into the workplace??

We arrived in Afghanistan and saw a damaged school. Insurgents bombed and shot up the building, so no kids went to school there. I believe that people across cultures and religions want what’s best for their kids, so supporting education was one of our top priorities to build bridges to the people in that corner of the country.?

“We’ve got funding to repair the school,” Captain John Page informed the Kamu village council, “If we repair it, will you use the school?”?

“Absolutely not.”

“Why not? Don’t you want your kids to go to school?”

“Of course we do, but we’re not sending our kids to school with children from Mirdish (a nearby village).”

John went to the Mirdish village council and got the same reply.

“Help me understand this situation,” he pleaded.

According to the elders, over a year ago, Americans asked what projects people wanted. Both villages replied that they wanted a school. Since the villages were about two miles apart, the Americans decided to kill two birds with one stone and put the school in between. They brought in an outside construction firm to build the school.

These actions outraged the elders. The villages were in a decades-long blood feud. They believed the Americans promised them a school for their village, not a joint venture. Bringing in outside labor and management affronted their pride and undermined economic opportunity.

Militants from both villages took turns attacking the school as well as John’s outpost.

John was genuinely curious about their views and how to improve relationships. He worked with them on a game plan to build trust and bring a school to each village. The attacks stopped. Co-creation created buy-in that turned angry villagers into allies.?

People Won’t Buy Into Change That Leaves Them Worse Off

Just as the villagers rejected a school that didn’t meet their expectations and needs, employees will resist AI if they perceive it as imposed upon them or as a threat to their roles.

The Economist ran a recent story about AI confirming this truism. Researchers determined that two variables highly correlated with buy-in for workplace AI. People who felt that AI enhanced the quality and meaning of their work saw the machine as a partner. Those who felt their roles diminished had a dim view.?

People involved in co-creating AI’s role naturally discovered ways to boost the job-enhancing aspects; employees viewed top-down imposed AI as job-diminishing or threatening.

AI will disrupt your workplace. For example, people doing repetitive knowledge work and white-collar information brokers will likely see AI do their work cheaper and better. High-trust, high-touch roles like consulting and those that require leadership won’t be replaced by machines.?

Co-creation and job enhancement are the keys to gaining buy-in for a human-AI partnership in your company. Even job-enhancing AI is likely to gain resistance if people do not believe their fingerprints are on it. Like the Afghans from Kamu and Mirdish, they have keen ideas on what’s likely to work and want to shape events to serve their interests.

Imagine your marketing team using AI to analyze consumer data more effectively. The AI provides insights your team uses to craft more personalized campaigns, leading to increased engagement. Instead of feeling replaced, your team sees AI as a tool that amplifies their creativity and impact while your company benefits.

Co-creation is not enough, especially if people believe their views are ignored and the change will do more harm than good. People can sense the illusion of consultation and grow cynical. They need to believe they are better off.

Lectures from you about that won’t convince them. They need to come to the conclusion themselves.

Your Role in Fostering Co-Creation

You play a crucial role in fostering co-creation by actively involving your teams in the AI integration process. This could include workshops, feedback sessions, and pilot programs where your employees experiment with AI tools and provide input on how to tailor them to enhance their work.

One common concern is that AI will make specific jobs obsolete. Addressing these fears openly and providing retraining opportunities or new roles can help alleviate your employees’ anxiety and build trust. Be transparent about AI’s impact and actively work to find solutions that benefit both the company and your employees.

Sometimes, people’s jobs become obsolete. Working with them to identify new ways they can contribute to your company’s success and their own growth will help you retain great talent . With this approach, even the ones better off moving on will become ambassadors for you.?

Just as Captain Page’s collaboration with the Afghan villages turned adversaries into allies, your efforts to co-create AI solutions with your team can transform potential resistance into enthusiastic support. The key to success is ensuring everyone feels better off in this new AI-enhanced environment.

Yes, I am an AI enthusiast. My chatbot helped me strengthen this article.??

I’m keen to hear your views on how you are using a Human – AI partnership to create a 1+1=5 outcome. Please reply with your successful practices.

If you want to explore more ideas on building trust in an AI-infused workplace, let’s have a meaningful conversation. You can schedule it here .

Keynote - Leading in an AI World: Repairing the Trust Crisis

As a retired Army Colonel who's led troops in combat, negotiated successfully with the Taliban, and advised top U.S. military officials, I bring unmatched real-world experience to the complex challenges of building trust in the most challenging environments. Leading in an AI World is the next frontier. My actionable strategies will empower you to build trust, improve collaboration, and achieve breakthrough performance in your billion-dollar enterprise.

Join me for insights crafted for CEOs and senior leaders who want the behaviors that inspire their employees to contribute their best even as AI’s role expands. Learn more and book my keynote here.