How purposeful, transparent communication helps employees embrace change and spark innovation
Synopsis
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming how organizations operate, but its success still depends on people. When leaders communicate with clarity, transparency, and vision, they can turn uncertainty into opportunity. The most effective leaders know that successful new initiatives begin with effective employee communication that clearly explains the vision, addresses concerns, and inspires teams to explore new possibilities.
AI is here, and employees are nervous
AI promises incredible breakthroughs faster than at any time in human history. By analyzing vast amounts of complex data and automating repetitive tasks, AI offers unprecedented potential to boost efficiency and productivity, freeing people to innovate and focus on what they do best.
Yet many employees remain apprehensive about AI’s impact on their jobs and their future. According to a 2025 Gallup survey:
- 3 in 4 Americans believe AI will reduce the total number of U.S. jobs in the next decade.
- Only 10% believe AI will do more good than harm.
- And 80% don’t trust businesses to use AI responsibly.
Headlines linking massive layoffs to AI-driven efficiencies have only deepened that anxiety. The 2025 AI Index report from Stanford University estimates that 78% of organizations used AI in at least one business function in 2024—up from 55% in 2023—signaling just how fast adoption is accelerating.
But amid the technological momentum, one truth remains clear: humans are essential to AI’s success. Every major technological leap—from the assembly line to automation to the digital revolution—has required people’s input, testing, training, and adaptation to succeed.
Leading with Communication
To help employees embrace AI and see it as a tool for progress rather than a threat, leaders must focus on engagement and connection by following this strategy:
1. Offer a clear, transparent vision
Explain how AI will benefit both the organization and employees. Share specific examples of how it can enhance roles, streamline work, and create opportunities for growth.
2. Build a human-centric culture
Emphasize how AI complements human creativity and decision-making. Reinforce that technology supports—not replaces—the unique value people bring.
3. Provide training and support
Identify the skills and behaviors essential to use AI responsibly and ethically. Offer resources that encourage experimentation, innovation, and collaboration.
4. Showcase success stories
Publicly recognize employees and teams who use AI to improve workflows, enhance service, or develop new ideas. Visibility builds trust and momentum.
The need for leaders to secure employee engagement and buy-in for major organizational changes is not new. What sets AI apart is the speed of adoption. The fear of being outpaced by competitors—or left behind entirely—is pushing many companies to invest heavily in this promising technology.
Taking the time to consider the human side of AI and how to position it for employees pays huge dividends. When people understand and embrace a change, implementations are smoother, innovation accelerates, and ROI on those investments comes much faster.
Getting It Right: Marriott Empowers Employees to Drive Grass-Roots AI Innovations
Marriott International demonstrates how putting employees at the center of AI initiatives can drive real results. Faced with a $1.2 billion investment in AI, Marriott adopted a bottom-up approach—encouraging employees to experiment with AI to explore new ways to improve guest experiences and simplify daily tasks.
By empowering employees to spearhead technological advancements to help guests, Marriott generated over 150 new improvement ideas. This approach also sparked greater curiosity about AI’s potential and fostered a more open-minded attitude toward its use.
When asked “How are you using data and AI to tailor digital experiences while still respecting guest privacy and comfort?”, Mark Shivers, Marriott’s Vice President, APEC Digital, explained how one of these ideas was being implemented:
“At Marriott, we see AI as a powerful enabler to enhance and create seamless guest experiences, not replace the human touch. We also see AI as a way to empower our associates with tools that make their jobs easier and allow them to spend more time with our guests. One current example is an AI tool we’re preparing to deploy that will assist front desk teams with room assignments, reducing complexity and allowing associates to focus more on welcoming guests. This is part of our broader GenAI innovation work, launched in 2023 through our internal GenAI Studio, where we prototype and scale ideas that benefit guests, hotel teams, and owners.”
It is no secret—and little wonder—that employees are leery of AI, but organizations and leaders can help ease those fears by being transparent and sharing a clear vision of how it will be used responsibly.
Like many technologies before it, AI will undoubtedly change the way we work. Leaders must help employees engage with and experiment using AI to boost adoption rates and enable them to leverage this revolutionary technology to innovate for their customers and build a better future for themselves.
Want to know more?
- Three in Four Americans Believe AI Will Reduce Jobs — Gallup, September 12, 2025
- Making AI Work: Leadership, Lab, and Crowd — Ethan Mollick, May 22, 2025
About the Author
Ric Neeley is the Principal of R&K Marketing Solutions. He specializes in B2B marketing and is a Certified Professional of Incentive Management (CPIM). Ric has worked with Fortune 1000 companies helping them engage customers, channel partners, and employees for over 30 years. Visit him at R&K Marketing Solutions to learn more.
This article first appeared on the website Starry Blue Brilliance and is published here with the author’s permission.