When stories of CEOs cutting their workforce for not adopting AI quickly enough land in the headlines, it sends a strong signal to employees at every level. For midcareer professionals across industries, the message is clear: AI is here to stay, and working alongside it is key to building a sustainable career.
But how should one start to hone and demonstrate the skills needed to leverage these advanced tools effectively, especially in the absence of a formal initiative in the workplace? Here, 18 members of Forbes Coaches Council share practical ways for seasoned employees to showcase their willingness to experiment responsibly with AI, determine how they want to bring those skills into the “future of work,” and maintain a steady career trajectory.
1. Treat AI As A Teammate, Not A Threat
Start treating AI like a teammate, not a threat. Look at your day-to-day—what’s slowing the team down, what’s repetitive, what’s drowning in data—and begin testing AI tools that can lighten the load. Use AI to sharpen your reporting, elevate your risk analysis and streamline your communication. Then share those wins companywide. – Emad Rahim, Inclusive 360 LLC
2. Position Yourself As The Quiet Innovator
Don’t wait for permission—become the “AI whisperer” in your department. Quietly solve a real problem using ChatGPT or another tool, then casually say, “I tested a faster way.” You’ll shift from being seen as replaceable to being the go-to innovator! – Tammy Homegardner, Linked Into Jobs
3. Shift Focus From What To How And Why
Three questions define the new reality: What, how and why? Historically, midcareer employees have been a source of organizational knowledge; their experience was valued in helping us know what to do. Frontline leaders largely fulfilled the need of showing us how we get things done. AI has commoditized knowledge (the “what”). Survival in the middle will be determined by your ability to execute and understand why. – George Pesansky, MyBlendedLearning
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4. Create A Tangible AI Portfolio
Create an AI learning portfolio. Document specific problems AI helped you solve, quantify the time and cost savings and proactively share these wins with leadership. Most employees wait for training; smart ones become internal case studies by experimenting responsibly and measuring results. – Cree Scott, Serenity Psy Consulting
5. Build Trust Before Diving Into Change
Humans aren’t wired to love change. Our brains crave safety and certainty. Before action, we need space to build trust and a sense of safety with AI. That begins with awareness: asking questions, learning from peers and reframing AI from threat to ally. Once curiosity takes root, defining “what’s in it for me” becomes the bridge to real buy-in and the courage to experiment. – Aparna Arvind, Christopher Leah Consulting, Inc.
6. Take Small, Documented Steps Forward
Start by taking small steps to proactively integrate AI into your workflow. You can do this by experimenting with tools to automate routine tasks, analyze data or enhance decision-making. Share insights with your team and document measurable improvements. Demonstrating curiosity, adaptability and tangible results may show you’re ready for the future that includes AI. – Chris Aird, With Purpose
7. Reframe AI As A Force Multiplier
A powerful way to demonstrate embracing and leveraging AI is to replace the victim mindset of thinking about how AI will replace your job with the progressive one that asks how it will amplify your team. Midcareer professionals earn strategic relevance not only by mastering tools, but also by reframing AI as a force multiplier for collective outcomes. Lead with ecosystem thinking, not individual survival. – Arthi Rabikrisson, Prerna Advisory
8. Redefine The Value Your Role Delivers
Don’t just show you can use AI for tasks—show you can reimagine the value your role delivers with it. Leaders notice midcareer pros who both optimize the work in front of them and rethink how AI could reshape workflows and future strategy. The ones who constantly question and redefine how they add value are the ones who get ahead because AI isn’t the point. The value you create with it is. – Lisa Christen, Christen Coaching & Consulting LLC
9. Earn Credentials To Signal AI Readiness
Look to add certifications from Coursera or Grow with Google to demonstrate your expertise. Both have courses that help you get started in prompt engineering and learn the basics of GenAI models. Learning how to “vibe code” can also demonstrate your ability to take an idea and deploy it to rapid prototypes. – Kelly Huang, Coach Kelly Huang
10. Form An AI Workgroup
For a midcareer professional, building AI literacy is key; start by using AI to streamline role-specific tasks like analyzing data, drafting reports or preparing presentations. Elevate your impact by leading a small AI workgroup, sharing best practices that enhance your team’s performance. This positions you as a forward-thinking leader who helps the organization stay ahead of change. – Viv Babber, MD, Lean Six Intelligence Group
11. Adopt AI Out Of Passion, Not Obligation
A true life and career strategy doesn’t depend on top-down directives. The best move for any employee is to be in love with their work and life. That drive sparks adoption of tools like AI ahead of the curve. By the time a formal initiative is announced, the real moment for leadership has already passed. – Victoria Vitchenco, Victoria Vitchenco
12. Follow A Three-Step Path To Confidence
AI is definitely here to stay! Midcareer employees can still meaningfully navigate AI with a suggested three-step approach: 1. Overcome any latent fears and begin to use AI as your friend; 2. research AI all you can, speak with experts (even outside ones) and learn all that you can; and 3. start to prepare scenarios where it can be useful and log these. Then, when and where appropriate, present these to your bosses. – Ash Varma, Varma & Associates
13. Transition From Doer To Orchestrator
The shift from doer to orchestrator shows you’re future-ready. Midcareer professionals can lead the way by using AI tools to streamline repetitive work and focus on oversight, insight and strategy. It signals initiative, adaptability and value creation, making you stand out even without a formal directive. Start now, and let your learning compound. – Kiran Mann, M2M Business Solutions Inc.
14. Prototype Small Wins With Everyday Tools
Proactive problem-solvers who see around corners have the advantage right now. Tools like Base44, Claude and Cursor let even non-technical folks prompt simple solutions for everyday problems. So leverage them! Pick one daily friction point. Build a prototype, run an experiment, document before-and-after results and present what’s possible. Your initiative is ultimately your insurance policy. – Marissa Brassfield, CTOx
15. Do Micro-Experiments To Show Initiative
Become a micro-experimenter with AI. Instead of waiting for directives, test AI on small, repetitive tasks and then share results. This shows curiosity in action, not silence. These visible experiments signal: “I’m not waiting to be told; I’m already preparing us for what’s next.” That mindset makes one indispensable in fast-changing times. – Veronica Angela, CONQUER EDGE, LLC
16. Launch A Self-Directed AI Project
Midcareer employees can show AI readiness by proactively building a project that uses AI tools—such as automation, data analysis or chatbots—to solve a real problem in their role. Then, they can document and share the impact with leadership without even being asked. – Damodar Selvam, Equifax Inc.
17. Pilot One Change That Delivers Visible Value
You don’t need a formal AI initiative to stay relevant. Start with one pilot: Summarize reports faster, automate repetitive tasks or analyze data differently. Share the results with your manager. It signals initiative, adaptability and a growth mindset: You’re not waiting to be told; you’re already learning and shaping how AI adds value. – Andre Shojaie, HumanLearn
18. Make Curiosity A Daily Practice
Be curious. Choose one task you do regularly (such as data analysis or email) and spend 20 minutes daily experimenting with an AI tool to enhance it. Document the time saved and the quality difference. Share your results with your team and manager. It’s a small investment of time that demonstrates your initiative and starts conversations about AI’s potential in your role—no permission required. – Susan Murray, Clearpath Leadership