Using Generative AI Tools to Build Smarter Training
How one OCM practitioner turned AI training into an engaging, confidence-building experience.
Rolling out AI tools in the workplace requires more than technical manuals or how-to guides. Employees need to feel not just capable, but confident—and even a little curious—about the technology. That’s where training comes in—and the right approach can make the difference between cautious adoption and genuine enthusiasm.
Daniel Canter, a Change and Communications Leader, led an AI enablement program for 800 employees at a global real estate firm. His approach offers powerful lessons about how to design AI training that sticks.
Meeting Employees Where They Are
Reactions to AI varied widely. Some employees were eager to experiment, while others feared it might replace part of their job. Instead of mandating compliance, Canter’s team created a voluntary, flexible program designed around awareness, confidence, and skills. The results? Nearly 75% of employees opted IN for training. This is proof that an invitational, empowering approach can drive strong engagement.
The Golden Retriever Effect
One of the most creative training design decisions was the use of a universally approachable theme: golden retrievers.
Every training exercise—whether drafting an email in Gmail, generating slides, or analyzing data in Sheets—used golden retrievers as the subject matter. This playful theme made AI feel less intimidating and more relatable. Employees could focus on learning how the tool worked, without the pressure of handling sensitive documents or complex technical tasks. The golden retriever theme did more than make people smile—it lowered the stakes. By centering the training around something light and familiar, employees could experiment freely without the fear of “getting it wrong.”
A Training Toolkit that Blended Human and AI
The program combined tried-and-true OCM practices with the power of AI itself:
Awareness campaigns to spark curiosity.
Hands-on sessions using golden retriever prompts.
A resource hub with quick guides, prompt sheets, and videos.
Hypercare calls for real-time Q&A.
Meanwhile, Gemini AI supported the program design by helping draft scripts, refine prompts, and create a four-week rollout plan. This “meta use” of AI demonstrated its practical value while reinforcing the program’s credibility. Together, these elements created an ecosystem of learning—part human insight, part AI acceleration—that built confidence and community around the new tools.
Key Lessons from the Field
Make it relatable. Training anchored in playful, universal examples helps reduce resistance.
Invite participation. Grassroots, voluntary approach fosters stronger engagement than top-down mandates.
Demonstrate value in real time. By using AI to build the program, employees saw its usefulness firsthand.
The Bigger Picture
Training others on AI isn’t about overwhelming them with technicalities. It’s about building confidence and trust. By using creativity, humor, and practical exercises, OCM professionals can help employees see AI not as a threat, but as a helpful partner in daily work.
The Takeaway
When it comes to teaching AI, don’t just focus on functionality. Make it engaging. Make it human. Because the best way to teach AI is to teach with empathy. And above all, meet employees where they are—because that’s when adoption takes root.
Contact ChangeStaffing for support with teaching AI with AI for your organization or client.
Thank you to Daniel Canter for his thought leadership and for collaborating with us on this blog.
Written by Kylette Harrison