AI Is Changing the Tools. The Real Challenge Is Changing Behavior…

We hear about AI everywhere. New tools. New workflows. New efficiencies. New expectations for how quickly organizations should adapt. And then there is emerging issue of workslop…

But there’s another part of the AI conversation that deserves more attention: People have to change, too.

That’s one reason I wanted to share this short video clip from Molly Sargent, one of the experts I’m fortunate to work with. Molly is an outstanding speaker and practitioner focused on sales, communication, behavior change—and increasingly, what it takes for people to effectively make the most of AI.

AI Adoption is a Human Challenge

Introducing an AI tool is one thing. Getting people to actually change how they work is another. People may need to:

• Let go of familiar habits
• Build confidence with new technology
• Rethink how they sell and communicate
• Practice new behaviors
• Learn how to use AI without losing the human connection

And that last point is especially important.

AI can give us more information and greater speed. But judgment, curiosity, listening, trust and human connection still matter…some might argue more than ever. In fact, as AI becomes more powerful, these uniquely human capabilities may become even more valuable.

From Knowing to Doing

Molly’s work focuses on an important distinction: knowing what to do doesn’t necessarily mean we will do it.

Behavior changes through practice, reinforcement, coaching and experience—not simply through training or being given a new tool.

That’s why I believe the organizations that get the most from AI will be those that focus not only on technology adoption, but on human behavior change.

The question isn’t just: “What can AI do for us?”

It’s also: “What do our people need to do differently—and how do we help them make that change?”

That’s a conversation worth having.

What It Really Takes to Change Behavior

Whether the ask is adopting AI, improving sales effectiveness, strengthening leadership, or changing how teams collaborate, the fundamentals of behavior change remain the same.

Real change requires more than awareness. It requires:

• A clear reason to change: People need to understand why the change matters and how it connects to their goals.
• Personal ownership: Change is more likely to stick when people see their role in it and take responsibility for making it happen.
• Practice and repetition: New behaviors become more natural through consistent practice, not simply learning a new concept.
• Feedback and coaching: People need opportunities to reflect, adjust, and build confidence along the way.
• Reinforcement and accountability: Lasting change requires ongoing support and reinforcement, not a one-time training event.

The bottom line: Whether the change involves AI or something else entirely, lasting transformation happens when people move from understanding what to do to consistently putting it into practice.

Key Takeaways

Introducing an AI tool is one thing. Getting people to actually change how they work is another.

AI adoption is a human challenge. Introducing new technology is only the beginning. People need to change how they work, think, and communicate.

• Knowing isn’t the same as doing. Lasting behavior change requires practice, coaching, and reinforcement—not just training.
• Human skills matter more than ever. Judgment, curiosity, listening, trust, and human connection remain essential in an AI-driven world.
• Ask a bigger question. Beyond “What can AI do for us?” ask, “What do our people need to do differently, and how do we support that change?”