15. Freezes when policies are unclear

People avoid using AI tools because they don’t know what’s allowed. Without clear policies, teams hesitate, worried about compliance and potential policy violations.

E.g. A team yearns for a AI-powered tool but creates a workaround to avoid confusion with company standards.

Why it happens

Lack of clear organisational policies on AI usage.

Fear of unknowingly violating rules or facing consequences.
Limited support or guidance from leadership on acceptable AI practices.

Upsides

• Prompts organisations to address AI policy blind spots.

• Highlights the need for clear leadership support.

Downsides

• Teams avoid AI entirely to prevent mistakes.

• Without clear rules, AI usage varies across teams and individuals.

Who you'll meet

The Anxious Adapter

Worries about making mistakes and avoids AI to stay safe.

The Boundary Setter

Limits the use of new tools to prevent disruption.

The AI Explorer

Wants to test new AI tools but is held back by unclear policies.

Quick wins

• Develop and share straightforward AI policies across teams.

• Provide easy-to-access documentation on acceptable AI use.

• Host Q&A sessions or workshops to address policy-related concerns.

Use the plays:

Let Teams Take the Lead

Methods that use the patterns

More patterns to explore

Get all 42 patterns and more in the HAP Behaviour Kit

A digital card kit that spots human friction, flips the behaviour, and turns AI skeptics into everyday users.

Works remote, hybrid, or in‑room.

£365

(+ applicable taxes)