Trying to rush AI adoption onto a creative team without guidance is like throwing someone a tuba and demanding a flawless performance.
Real integration requires patience, learning, and strong leadership.

At DolFinContent’s Infinite Canvas Summit, CEO Eliott Wahba outlined a better way to guide creative and marketing teams through AI adoption—a path grounded in human understanding first, technology second.

Here’s the full framework.

Step 1: Understand the Human Element

Introducing AI isn't just a technical move—it’s deeply human.

"AI adoption tested us, too. We made mistakes, learned a lot, and it took real care to get it right."
— Eliott Wahba, CEO of DolFinContent

Employees naturally worry about AI:
Will it replace me? Is it too complicated? Why fix what’s not broken?

Ignoring those fears delays success.
Leading with empathy ensures the team feels heard, respected, and supported from the start.

Step 2: Direct the Rider

Imagine the brain like an elephant and a rider.
The rider is logical—wants clear plans.
The elephant is emotional—needs to feel good about the journey.

"Give people a clear GPS: Where we’re headed and exactly how we’ll get there."
— Eliott Wahba

Clear directions are crucial:

• Identify bottlenecks: What’s slowing things down?
• Create smaller steps: Start with one small AI tool, not an entire overhaul.
• Give detailed instructions: Like assembling IKEA furniture, but less confusing.

Without a clear map, your team will feel lost before they even start.

Step 3: Motivate the Elephant

People move when they’re excited, not just when they’re told.

"Excitement, curiosity, pride—those emotions drive long-term adoption, not fear."
— Eliott Wahba

To motivate your team:

• Celebrate small wins early.
• Prime identity: Call team members "AI pioneers" or "innovation leaders."
• Share what’s possible, not what’s scary.

Positive emotional priming builds momentum faster than fear-based urgency.

Step 4: Shape the Path

You can't expect people to wrestle their way through obstacles every day.

"Environmental tweaks beat self-control every time."
— Eliott Wahba

Set up the right conditions:

• Make AI access easy: Clear, fast login processes, no messy workflows.
• Remove distractions: Clean up old systems that complicate new habits.
• Upgrade automatically: Don’t leave the “old way” available forever.

Small tweaks in the environment create huge changes in behavior.

Step 5: Apply Practically and Early

AI adoption thrives on real examples, not theory.

"The fastest way to prove AI’s value is through quick, visible wins."
— Eliott Wahba

Here’s how DolFinContent does it:

• Showcase mini-success stories internally.
• Encourage experiments—even rough ones.
• Support creative side projects where team members try AI freely.

If you wait for "perfect" use cases, you’ll be waiting forever.
Instead, start small, share often, and celebrate loudly.

Step 6: Address Resistance Carefully

Not all questions are rebellion—many are real concerns.

"When people say, 'We’ve always done it this way,' they’re asking for reassurance, not dismissal."
— Eliott Wahba

Handle resistance by:

• Listening deeply: Surveys, 1:1 chats, anonymous feedback.
• Clarifying misunderstandings: Show AI as an ally, not a replacement.
• Highlighting security and support: Reduce fears wherever possible.

Resistance isn't the enemy—silence is.
If no one’s raising concerns, they’ve probably already checked out.

Step 7: Build a Supportive Culture

You can’t force cultural change—you have to grow it.

"Culture isn’t just what you say. It’s what you consistently celebrate."
— Eliott Wahba

Here’s how DolFinContent strengthens culture during AI shifts:

• Create a shared vision: Link AI use directly to bigger team and company goals.
• Celebrate milestones: Both major wins and tiny victories.
• Give visibility to experiments: Highlight AI success stories across teams.

Culture is the long game.
Invest in it now, and your team will grow stronger—not fracture—through change.

Put Humanity First When Integrating AI

Successful AI adoption isn’t about mastering every new tool immediately.
It’s about honoring the emotional journey your team needs to take.

As Eliott Wahba says:

"Artificial intelligence only works when it’s guided by human emotional intelligence."

By directing logically, motivating emotionally, shaping environments, sharing success, addressing concerns, and building a resilient culture, you can unlock not just AI’s potential—but your team’s full potential too.

Ready to build a future where AI and human creativity thrive together?

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