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    Solving the Human Challenge of AI Adoption with Gleb Tsipursky #310

    by | Sep 29, 2026

    Episode recap:

    If you champion human-centered leadership and want to see your people flourish, Marcel would love to speak with you about partnership opportunities. Book a call here: https://calendly.com/marcelschwantes/discovery-call?month=2026-02

    Guest Bio:

    Dr. Gleb Tsipursky, PhD, is CEO of Disaster Avoidance Experts and a behavioral scientist who helps leaders adopt AI without overpaying or alienating their people. Author of seven books, his work appears in Harvard Business Review, Fortune, and Forbes. He lives in Columbus, Ohio. 

     

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    Show Notes

    Quotes:

    • The one thing to remember is it’s not about the technology; it’s about the psychology.
    • Realistically, the people who will be effective and productive in the company are the ones using AI tools.
    • People need to be much more engaged, but you need to address their emotions.

    Takeaways:

    1. AI adoption is a people challenge first. Address employees’ fear of job loss, concerns about professional identity, and stigma around using AI, not just the technology.
    2. Make AI use safe and visible. Involve HR, have leaders model AI use, and create opportunities to share experiments and successes.
    3. Measure results, not activity. Evaluate both efficiency, such as time saved, and effectiveness, such as the quality of AI-assisted work.

    Timestamps:

    00:00 The AI Adoption Gap
    04:33 Dr. Gleb Tsipursky’s Story
    06:31 What Disaster Avoidance Experts Do
    07:03 Why AI Adoption Fails
    11:27 Three Psychological Blockers
    18:09 Addressing Fear of Job Loss
    21:50 What Is Shadow AI?
    23:50 Making AI Use More Open
    26:30 Psychological Safety and Experimentation
    27:43 Measuring AI Success
    30:51 AI and the Future of Work
    32:48 The Human Side of AI Adoption
    33:49 Where to Find Dr. Gleb Tsipursky

     

    Conclusion:

    Successful AI adoption starts with understanding people, not just deploying technology. Leaders can reduce resistance by addressing fears about job security, professional identity, and the stigma around using AI. Involving HR, modeling transparent AI use, and encouraging safe experimentation can help teams learn together. Measure success by both the time saved and the quality of the work produced. When organizations put people at the center of AI adoption, they are better positioned to grow, innovate, and flourish.

             

    The Book

     

     

    Links/Resources: 

    Connect with Dr. Gleb Tsipursky: 

     

    Website: http://disasteravoidanceexperts.com/ 

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-gleb-tsipursky/  

     

    Connect with Marcel Schwantes: 

     

    Substack: https://marcelschwantes.substack.com/  

    LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/marcelschwantes/    

    X: https://x.com/MarcelSchwantes  

    YouTube: https://youtube.com/@MarcelSchwantes1  

    Instagram: https://instagram.com/marcel.schwantes/

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    About Marcel Schwantes

    Marcel Schwantes is a leading executive coach, keynote speaker, and a global authority on developing great leaders and great cultures.

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