Technique 2.117 AI & the Brain (Change Management Readiness Checklist)

Introduction

Use this technique for leaders, project teams, and change managers preparing people for AI-enabled change.

Answer the questions below by circling ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ and if unsure, circle both, ie ‘Yes/No’.

The more ‘Yes’ answers the better you are prepared for AI; ‘No’ answers are highlighting areas for improvement.

If necessary, provide comments with your answer.

Checklist

1. Reducing Cognitive Threat

Have we clearly explained how AI augments (not replaces) people’s work? (Yes/No)

Comments:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Have we identified groups most at risk of feeling loss of competence or identity? (Yes/No)

Have we communicated future roles, skills, and opportunity pathways? (Yes/No)

Have we provided a psychologically safe space for questions, fears, and experimentation? (Yes/No)

2. Managing Cognitive Load & Overwhelm

Have we simplified the AI transition into small, manageable steps? (Yes/No)

Are learning modules short, spaced, and immediately useful? (Yes/No)

Have we reduced other competing initiatives to avoid overload? (Yes/No)

Do teams know exactly where to start and what to do next? (Yes/No)

3. Supporting Identity Shift

Have we created “skill bridges” showing how existing strengths transfer to AI-enabled work? (Yes/No)

Are leaders reinforcing that curiosity and learning behaviour are valued over mastery? (Yes/No)

Are there mentoring or peer learning structures in place (AI champions, buddy systems)? (Yes/No)

Have we normalised discomfort and framed it as part of growth? (Yes/No)

4. Reinforcing Attention & Reducing Distraction

Are communications short, clear, visual, and free from unnecessary detail? (Yes/No)

Do we have mechanisms to keep staff focused on the few things that matter? (Yes/No)

Have we built quick wins to maintain engagement and positive dopamine cycles? (Yes/No)

Are training resources easy to find, access, and recall? (Yes/No)

5. Building AI Skills & Critical Thinking

Has everyone been trained on effective prompting and AI verification skills? (Yes/No)

Are staff aware of automation bias and encouraged to question AI outputs? (Yes/No)

Do workflows include human-in-the-loop checks at appropriate points? (Yes/No)

Have we built simple “AI hygiene” rules (accuracy checks, responsible use, data privacy, etc)? (Yes/No)

6. Strengthening Social Connection

Have we designed moments for human connection (team discussions, co-creation, debriefs)? (Yes/No)

Are leaders modelling empathy, presence, and genuine listening during the transition? (Yes/No)

Do people feel their contributions matter and are visible? (Yes/No)

Have we created rituals (daily stand-ups, weekly reflections) that rebuild team cohesion? (Yes/No)

7. Building Confidence & Psychological Safety

Have leaders openly acknowledged uncertainties while providing direction? (Yes/No)

Are people encouraged to experiment with AI without fear of judgment? (Yes/No)

Comments:………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Do we reward learning attempts, not just outcomes? (Yes/No)

Is feedback invited regularly and acted upon visibly? (Yes/No)

8. Ensuring Ethical & Responsible AI Adoption

Have we identified risks: bias, privacy, misinformation and over-reliance? (Yes/No)

Is there a clear governance model for responsible use of AI tools? (Yes/No)

Do staff know what kinds of data can and cannot be put into AI systems? (Yes/No)

Are we monitoring unintended consequences on people, processes, and culture? (Yes/No)

(main source: Michelle Gibbings, 2025o)

Technique 2.117 AI & the Brain (Change Management Readiness Checklist)

Introduction

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