When progress creates pressure

Over the past several months, we’ve seen how AI has helped Clay reclaim time, improve workflows, and reawaken growth opportunities. But now the challenge shifts. Even though results are starting to show, not everyone is comfortable with how fast things are changing.

In this phase of the journey, Clay has to do something even harder than learning a new tool: lead through discomfort with empathy and clarity.

The breakroom moment

It was a throwaway comment, but one Clay couldn’t ignore.

He had just stepped into the breakroom to refill his mug when he caught the end of a conversation between Jess and Rick. They were standing near the fridge, talking in low voices.

Rick said it loud enough for Clay to hear:

“It’s like we’re being told to act like computers. That’s not why I got into printing.”

Jess didn’t respond, at least not before Clay walked in. Rick saw him, nodded a quick hello, and left with his coffee. No confrontation. Just tension, hanging in the air.

A quiet check-in

Later that day, Clay asked Rick if they could talk.

They sat in Clay’s office, door open but tone casual.

“Hey,” Clay said, “I overheard a bit this morning. You okay?”

Rick didn’t dodge it.

“I’m not against all this AI stuff. Some of it’s smart. I just feel like we’re moving fast. Faster than I’m used to. It’s hard to know where I still fit sometimes.”

Clay nodded. He didn’t try to defend. He didn’t pivot to productivity stats.

“That makes sense,” he said. “This isn’t just new tools; it’s a new way of working. And I know that comes with questions. You’re not the only one.”

Rick looked relieved just to be heard.

“I don’t want to slow anything down,” he said. “But I don’t want to get left behind either.”

Resetting the tone

The next morning, Clay called a short team huddle.

It wasn’t a speech. Just a reset.

“I want to talk for a minute about something that’s come up. If anyone’s feeling uncertain about how we’re using AI, I want you to know that’s okay. This is new for all of us. But we’re going to learn together. Nobody gets left behind.”

He paused and scanned the room.

“I don’t expect anyone to love this technology overnight. But I do want us to stay curious. So starting this week, we’ll do short AI share-outs every other Friday. No pressure. Just a space to say what’s working or ask questions about what’s not.”

Jess nodded. Rick didn’t say anything. But he didn’t walk out, either.

Two Fridays later

Clay wasn’t sure what to expect at the first share-out.

He opened with a quick example: how he used AI to break down a customer reorder trend earlier in the week.

Then Jess shared how she’d been using AI to simplify proposal emails.

“I still rewrite a lot of what it gives me,” she admitted. “But it helps me start faster.”

Then came a surprise.

Rick cleared his throat.

“I tried something this week,” he said. “We’ve been getting bogged down quoting similar jobs, those with the same stock, same layout, same delivery specs. I asked the AI to help me draft a quick quote explanation I could reuse. Just a baseline message for the common stuff.”

He held up a sheet of paper.

“It’s not perfect. But it saved me probably 20 minutes across three jobs.”

No one clapped. No one needed to.

It wasn’t about applause. It was about alignment.

Clay’s reflection

That afternoon, Clay found himself alone in the shop for a few minutes.

He thought about the last two months.

They had:

• Introduced AI workflows into customer service and production
• Recovered lost revenue from dormant clients
• Reduced friction across everyday tasks

But none of that would have mattered if the team didn’t come along.

This isn’t just about new capabilities, Clay realized. It’s about shared understanding. Trust.

That’s the real work of leadership.

Why this matters

AI resistance doesn’t always sound like “No.” Sometimes, it sounds like silence. Hesitation. Jokes that don’t quite land. Questions that don’t get asked.

If you’re leading a team, the goal isn’t to convince everyone; it’s to make space for their growth.

Culture change doesn’t come from a policy.
It comes from a conversation.

And sometimes, the person who resists the hardest is the one who ends up surprising you most.

Next month in the series

The journey comes full circle as Clay reflects on where they’ve come and what it means to be a printer who’s ready for what’s next.

This article originally appeared in the January 2026 issue of NPSOA magazine. For more information on how you can become an NPSOA member and enjoy the many benefits offered there, contact Member Services at me********@***oa.org or head to their website at NPSOA.org.