The Story of Two Teams

I like to narrate a story of two teams in one of my previous organizations.

When the Department of Urban Planning introduced a new AI-driven platform to streamline public consultations, two teams responded in very different ways.

Team A viewed the change with suspicion. They saw AI as a threat to their expertise, resisted the training sessions, and stuck to old methods whenever possible.

Team B took a different approach. Though they too felt overwhelmed at first, they asked questions, shared tips, and celebrated small milestones. Mistakes were met with laughter and learning, not blame.

One year later, Team B had fully integrated AI into their workflows. They reduced project turnaround times by 30% — and their employee engagement scores climbed. Meanwhile, Team A lagged behind, frustrated and disengaged.

"Mindset, not technical skill, determined who adapted and who fell behind."

Growth Mindset: Seeing AI as an Ally, Not an Enemy

Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck’s research shows that people with a growth mindset — those who believe abilities can be developed through effort — are better positioned to embrace challenges (Source: Dweck, 2006).

In an AI-driven public sector, this mindset matters more than ever.

Instead of asking, "What if I fail with this new tool?" public servants with a growth mindset ask, "What can I learn from trying this?"

Organizations like Microsoft credit their growth mindset culture for helping them pivot successfully into AI and cloud services (Source: Harvard Business Review, 2018).

"A growth mindset turns AI disruption into an invitation to grow."

Grit: Staying the Course When the AI Journey Gets Tough

If growth mindset gets you started, grit — defined by Angela Duckworth as passion and perseverance for long-term goals — keeps you moving (Source: Duckworth, 2016).

AI adoption isn’t a sprint. It’s a marathon full of false starts, complex upgrades, and unexpected roadblocks.

Public servants showing grit:

  • Persist through the "messy middle" of AI implementation.

  • Maintain their commitment to public service even as their roles evolve.

  • See challenges not as reasons to give up, but as part of the path forward.

  • "Grit ensures we stay on the path, even when the road gets rough."

Research by Duckworth and colleagues shows that gritty individuals outperform even more talented peers in demanding fields like teaching and military leadership (Source: Duckworth et al., 2007).

How Leaders Can Cultivate Growth Mindset and Grit

The good news? Growth mindset and grit aren’t traits you’re born with — they can be developed. Here’s how public sector leaders can help:

  • Tell real stories of learning: Leaders should share their own AI missteps and what they learned.

  • Celebrate effort, not just results: Publicly recognizing someone who struggled through a new system can encourage others to persist.

  • Create a safe environment for experimentation: Let teams know that early failures are expected — and necessary — for mastering AI tools.

  • Invest in continuous learning: Provide regular, accessible training that rewards curiosity and persistence, not just expertise.

A World Economic Forum report found that reskilling programs combining technical training with mindset coaching were significantly more successful in AI transitions (Source: World Economic Forum, 2023).

"Technical skills matter — but the will to learn matters more."

The Final Chapter: Humans Still Lead the Story

AI will continue to automate, optimize, and transform public services. But the real leadership — the kind that adapts, innovates, and stays human-centered — will come from public servants who are willing to grow and endure.

The story of Team B could be the story of every public sector team facing AI today: those who see change not as an end, but as a beginning.

"In the age of AI, resilience and curiosity are our true superpowers."

When growth mindset and grit become the default, the public sector doesn’t just survive AI disruption — it thrives.