When you feel fear or anxiety about a new development, like AI, treat it as a biological clue that this is something important to pay attention to. Instead of hiding from it, lean in and explore how it can benefit you and your work. Your fear is highlighting an area for growth.
Fear is an ancient survival mechanism. Your brain often can't differentiate between a genuine physical threat (like a tiger) and a perceived social threat (posting online). This misinterpretation causes you to avoid low-risk, high-reward activities because your brain defaults to extreme risk mitigation.
Many professionals avoid posting on LinkedIn due to fear, only showing up when they need a job. This reactive approach fails because they haven't built social capital or provided value beforehand. Consistent, proactive engagement is crucial for career security, preventing the need for desperate, last-minute posts.
Throughout history, new technologies have been met with "doom and gloom" predictions that rarely materialize. The fear that email would create a "paperless society" and bankrupt paper companies is a prime example of getting it wrong. This historical perspective suggests today's most dire predictions about AI are also likely incorrect.
Approaching new technology like AI from a place of fear ("I'll lose my job if I don't learn this") is a poor motivator. A more powerful construct is to ask, "How can I use this new tool to serve my clients and constituents at a higher level?" This shifts the focus from survival to service.