Some people thrive in the spotlight. They bring life to meetings with big ideas, charm clients with a well-timed story, or rally a team with a vision that demonstrates their talent for inspiration. But when AI enters the conversation — say, a tool to streamline their work or help them think more creatively — they hesitate and the smile tightens.
Center-Stagers are not selfish; they simply define their unique contribution as being more original than others. And who can blame them? When companies increasingly value efficiency over headcount, AI can feel like a rival threatening to dim their shine — or worse, call their value into question. It’s not just about pride, but potentially survival.
We’ve witnessed this tension evolve over the past year. Companies are running leaner, demanding more from fewer people. Goldman Sachs estimates that 25% of work tasks in the U.S. and Europe could already be automated, with the potential for full automation of up to 30% of jobs by 2030 and as much as 50% by 2045. That’s real pressure on salaries, roles, and relevance. For someone who’s worth comes from standing out, AI’s promise of sharper insights feels personal.
Take Harrison, a 32-year-old sales lead I met during a teaming session. He’s the magnetic personality that closes deals with a smile and reads people instinctively. When his team needed to boost client retention and a colleague suggested an AI CRM tool to predict at-risk accounts, Harrison dismissed it with “I know my clients just fine.” Weeks later, drowning in follow-ups while watching colleagues in other departments sprint ahead, he confessed his real fear: if AI spotted the risks first, what was his value? Would his contributions still justify a bonus?
Here’s the irony: avoiding AI doesn’t protect your spotlight, it dims it. Harrison’s manual hustle wasn’t showcasing his value; it was burning him out, leaving little energy for the signature spark only he could bring.
The Resistance Pattern
Harrison isn’t alone. We’ve observed this pattern across industries, from creative directors who insist on manually reviewing every design element to financial advisors who pride themselves on “gut feeling” investment calls. What unites these professionals isn’t technophobia but identity protection. They’ve spent decades crafting a professional persona built on being exceptional. AI threatens not just how they work, but who they believe themselves to be.
Lisa, a marketing executive at a consumer goods company, confided that she deliberately excluded AI tools from her team’s workflow despite suggestions from leadership. “My creative direction is what got me here,” she explained. “An algorithm can’t replace that. ” A few months later, her department was restructured to conserve costs. Lisa wasn’t wrong about having unique expertise, but she ignored the efficiencies that are being increasingly demanded, and failed to investigate if leveraging AI would have given her a boost while maintaining her primary value as a subject matter expert.
Reframing the Relationship
The breakthrough comes when Center-Stagers shift their perspective from competition to collaboration. AI isn’t stealing your spotlight; it’s adjusting the lighting to highlight your best features while minimizing shadows.
So, how do you share the spotlight without losing yourself?
If you’re in sales, try using AI to analyze client data before your next pitch. It might miss nuances, but it’ll reveal patterns you can transform into a compelling story. You’re still the one delivering the magic, just with stronger preparation. Or let AI draft follow-up emails that you personalize with your unique voice, freeing an hour for genuine connection. Want to level up? Share your prospect’s profile with AI, arm it with tough objections, and practice your responses. The key is maintaining control: you direct, AI supports.
For those in creative fields, use AI to generate multiple concept variations, then apply your seasoned judgment to refine or combine them. The initial ideation happens faster, but the crucial artistic decisions remain yours. Product managers can leverage AI to analyze customer feedback at scale, then apply their expertise to prioritize which insights deserve action.
The New Spotlight
The most successful professionals I’ve coached have discovered something unexpected: Your colleagues and clients aren’t impressed by your ability to perform tasks a machine could handle; they value your unique judgment, creativity, and relationship skills.
Your value hasn’t changed—it’s still about what you bring. AI simply amplifies and expands your capabilities. So start small: one email draft, data analysis, or pitch rehearsal. See AI for what it actually is, a tool for growth, and you may actually enjoy the ride.
