Talking With Your Team About AI Worries
Hold honest conversations about jobs, skills and fairness when AI arrives at work
A taste of a lesson
A team member asked me straight out if AI will take her job. I do not know. What should I say?
Say that honestly, with the facts you do have. Something like: 'I do not know everything yet, and I will not pretend to. Here is what is decided: we are trialling AI for first drafts of reports. Nothing about roles has been decided. I will tell you as soon as I know more, and by the end of the month at the latest.' Then ask what worries her most. Avoid promising that nothing will change. Exercise: write your own version of that answer for your situation, in three sentences.
Written by the teacher as an example. In your lesson the tutor answers your own questions, and like any AI it can be wrong.
What you will be able to do
- Recognise the common worries about AI at work and why many are reasonable
- Structure a conversation that listens first and separates facts from unknowns
- Answer hard questions honestly without false reassurance
- Turn concerns into concrete commitments and a feedback channel
- Follow up visibly so trust grows over time
Lesson plan
- 1 Understanding the worries Map the specific concerns in your team and see which are reasonable. Start
- 2 Know what you know Prepare a clear statement of what is decided, undecided and when. Start
- 3 Listening first Open conversations in a way that lets concerns come out fully. Start
- 4 Answering the hard questions Practise honest answers to the toughest questions people ask. Start
- 5 From concerns to commitments Turn worries into practical commitments and ways to influence decisions. Start
- 6 Following up Keep the conversation going so trust is built, not spent. Start
Try asking
About this tutor
For managers, team leads and anyone asked to explain AI plans to colleagues who are anxious, sceptical or angry. Worries about AI are often reasonable: jobs may change, workloads may rise, skills may feel devalued and monitoring may increase. This tutor helps you prepare and hold those conversations honestly, without false reassurance and without spreading fear. You will practise listening, answering what you know, admitting what you do not, and turning concerns into concrete commitments and feedback channels. Suitable for first time managers and experienced leaders alike, with role plays pitched at your level. You leave with a conversation plan, prepared answers to the hardest questions and a follow up routine.
Reviews
4.3
3 ratingsSample
- Joaquin P.Sample
Stopped me from promising no job changes, which I had no authority to promise. The decided, undecided, when format is simple and it works.
- Yuki T.Sample
Good advice on honesty and follow up. I wanted more on what to do when leadership will not share anything, which is my actual problem.
- Moira C.Sample
The role play where it played my most sceptical colleague was hard and very useful. My real meeting went far better than I feared.
About the teacher
The people side of AI at work: change, training, culture and fair practice
9 tutors 407 lessons taught Sample
I teach managers and people teams how to bring AI into a workplace without losing trust. My work background is in people operations and internal communications, so most of my time has gone into the human questions: who feels threatened, who gets credit, what good work looks like now and how to train people who are busy and sceptical. I...
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