The AI Skills Gap: Training Your Team for Success
Your company invested in AI tools, set up the accounts, and sent the announcement email. So why is half your team still relying on the old way of doing things? The problem isn’t that your team is resisting AI. It’s that traditional training focuses on what AI can do, rather than teaching how to use it effectively in real-world tasks.
The Real Training Challenge
Most AI training sessions look like this: "Here’s ChatGPT. It can write emails and create social media posts. Any questions?" Then everyone nods, says it looks great, and goes back to doing things the old way because they don’t know how to actually use AI in their daily tasks.
Sound familiar?
The issue is that most AI training is tool-focused and theoretical, leaving employees unsure of how to translate AI’s potential into practical productivity.
What Actually Works
Move beyond feature demos. Start with the problems your team already faces and show them how AI can solve them in real time.
Instead of: "AI can write listing descriptions,"
Try: "Here’s how Sarah used AI to rewrite that tricky listing description for a house with an awkward layout. Let’s walk through her exact process."Instead of: "AI can help with social media,"
Try: "Show me your phone. We’re going to create three Instagram posts for your current listings, using AI to streamline the process."
These examples focus on hands-on practice with real tasks, not just theoretical possibilities. It’s about real-world applications.
The Three-Part Training Framework
Part 1: Start Small and Specific
Pick one task that everyone does regularly, like follow-up emails after showings or creating property feature lists. Train the team on this one task until everyone can use AI confidently. Don’t move on to the next task until everyone is regularly using the first one in their daily workflow.
Part 2: Address the Resistance Directly
Some employees worry that AI will replace them. Others feel it’s too complicated or are afraid of making mistakes. Have honest conversations about these concerns. Show them how AI enhances their work, not how it replaces their judgment. And, for the love of all that’s holy, make it clear that they’re still responsible for reviewing and editing AI output.
Part 3: Create Internal Champions
Identify the early adopters who "get it" and turn them into peer trainers. Sarah, who’s using AI for listing presentations, will be more relatable to her colleagues. Set up regular "AI wins" sharing sessions where team members present something they accomplished with AI. Peer support and healthy competition go a long way.
For Different Learning Styles
The Skeptics: Start with simple, low-risk tasks. Let them see small wins before asking them to trust AI with bigger projects.
The Overwhelmed: Provide simple templates and step-by-step guides that they can follow. Build their confidence with structure.
The Eager Adopters: Offer advanced prompting techniques and let them experiment. Then, ask them to share their findings with the team.
The Perfectionists: Show them how to use AI as a starting point, not the final product. Emphasize that editing and refinement are part of the process.
Common Training Mistakes to Avoid
Teaching too many tools at once: Introducing multiple AI tools in one session can overwhelm your team. Focus on mastering one tool first.
Focusing on AI capabilities instead of business applications: Demonstrate how AI solves real work problems, not just what the tool can do.
Not providing follow-up support: After the initial training, check in regularly. Ensure your team continues to have the resources and support they need.
Assuming everyone learns the same way: People learn differently. Customize your training approach to meet your team’s diverse needs.
Making training optional: If AI is critical to your business, make training mandatory.
Measuring Success
Don’t just track who attended training, track who’s actually using the AI tools regularly. Survey your team monthly:
What tools are you using?
What’s working well?
What’s frustrating?
What additional resources would help?
The goal isn’t perfect AI usage; it’s consistent, practical application that enhances productivity.
The Long Game
AI tools evolve quickly and new features are launched monthly. What you teach today might be outdated in six months. Train your team to stay curious and experimental, rather than just following rigid scripts. The agents who adapt and evolve their AI usage will outperform those who memorize prompts.
For Managers and Executives
Treat AI training like you treat market education or compliance training. Budget for it as an ongoing skill development initiative. This isn’t a one-time workshop; it’s an ongoing process that will determine whether your AI investment pays off. Lead by example. If you’re not using AI tools yourself, your team won’t be motivated to either. Show them how AI enhances your work and makes your life easier.
Speaking of real-world applications, I’ll be releasing a blog tomorrow on my experience teaching AI to a Masterclass of top real estate agents. We explored specific use cases, addressed common AI concerns, and outlined actionable steps for agents to start leveraging AI today. Stay tuned for insights from that session and learn how to apply them to your team’s training.
Need help designing practical AI training for your team? Let’s talk.