How to spot them
Signature behaviours:
✅ Visibly hesitant – Looks stressed or tense during AI tasks.
✅ Asks for constant reassurance – Needs confirmation before acting.
✅ Avoids AI when possible – Only uses tools when forced.
✅ Second-guesses everything – Pauses, undoes, or hesitates mid-task.
✅ Watches others first – Won’t try until they’ve seen someone else do it.
What this means for you:
- They can quietly stall adoption, especially in frontline roles.
- They bring up the emotional side of change, which many ignore.
- They won’t resist openly, but they need a lot more support to engage.
- With the right help, they become loyal, thoughtful adopters.
The challenges they create
⚠️ Low confidence loop – Avoids using AI, so never gets better at it.
⚠️ Fear of failure – Worries one wrong move could cause real harm.
⚠️ Job security stress – Sees AI as a threat to their role, not a tool.
⚠️ Wait-and-see mindset – Will delay adoption until someone else “goes first.”
What to do
Let them explore without fear
- Give them a low-stakes space to try AI with no pressure or judgement.
- Use demos, practice runs, or roleplay to build muscle memory.
- Offer clear, bite-sized instructions with examples they can follow.
Progress over perfection
- Break tasks into simple, achievable steps to avoid overwhelm.
- Celebrate first attempts—even if imperfect.
- Pair them with supportive peers or mentors who can coach without pressure.
Reframe AI as support, not replacement
- Show how AI helps them do more of what they’re good at.
- Be transparent: AI is a tool, not a replacement plan.
- Share stories of people like them who’ve learned and thrived with AI.
