How to Avoid a False Start When You’re Leading a Big Change

Here’s a story I’ve heard 10 times in as many weeks: XYZ company has a new AI-enabled internal workflow initiative. Rollout happens as a decisive move toward “AI-first operations.” The rollout fails. What happened? Not long after launch, usage data shows us the story. A fraction of frontline teams use the new system consistently. Others participate occasionally but revert to legacy ways of working when there’s pressure or a problem. The remainder bypass the change altogether, relying on spreadsheets, email, or familiar workarounds.