Although continuous business change is nothing new, the introduction of AI (artificial intelligence) within organizations will have a profound impact on employees, their wellbeing and ability to deliver against expected goals.
Organizational change fatigue refers to the cumulative and prolonged effect of experiencing numerous organizational changes within a relatively short period of time. With AI creating changes in jobs, processes and systems, the impacts on employees and organizations will become significant.
When individuals continually face changes without sufficient time to adjust and adapt, it can lead to increased stress, decreased motivation, and eventually professional burnout.
In the light of coming AI driven changes, here are a few factors business leaders need to monitor to prevent professional burnout in their teams:
Uncertainty and Ambiguity
The increase and frequency of changes due to AI may lead to uncertainty and ambiguity about job expectations and future job security. Employees may struggle to keep up with changing priorities and struggle to find a sense of stability. The state of unpredictability can be mentally and emotionally draining, making it difficult to sustain motivation and engagement.
Increased and Changing Workload and Pressure
As AI disrupts workflows and processes, it will result in increased work uncertainty. Employees may need to learn new skills, adopt different ways of working, or take on additional responsibilities. This heightened pressure to meet new demands and changes while maintaining regular workloads can lead to employees becoming overwhelm.
Resistance and Lack of Support
As AI challenges the workplace status quo, these change initiatives often face resistance from employees who are against change or feel overwhelmed by its frequency. The lack of support or resources provided by the organization to navigate these changes can amplify stress levels. When employees feel unheard or unsupported during the change process, it can contribute to feelings of frustration, helplessness, and eventually burnout.
Loss of Control and Autonomy
The introduction of AI in analyzing and monitoring employee outcomes will erode employees’ sense of control and autonomy over their work. The introduction of AI will drive changes that impact job roles, responsibilities, performance expectations or even job security. The loss of control can generate feelings of powerlessness and increase stress levels, leading to change resistance and burnout over time.
Emotional Exhaustion
Organizational change fatigue often involves resistance, managing uncertainties, and adapting to new situations. Organizations need to implement robust change management programs to deal and alleviate organizational stress. Continuous change using emotional energy without adequate time for recovery, can lead to emotional exhaustion, a key component of burnout.
Role Conflict and Role Ambiguity
With the introduction of AI in business operations, it can lead to role conflict, where employees face conflicting expectations or unclear responsibilities. Additionally, role ambiguity arises when employees are unsure about what is expected of them in their new roles vs that of AI. Both role conflict and role ambiguity can contribute to stress and job dissatisfaction, further increasing the risk of burnout.
Reduced Job Satisfaction
When employees repeatedly experience organizational changes without seeing positive outcomes or perceiving benefits, job satisfaction declines. A lack of job satisfaction has a profound impact on productivity, motivation and employee engagement. Ironically, behaviours displayed during reduced job satisfaction, may lead to increased application of AI to replace disgruntled employees. Leading to more uncertainty.
To mitigate organizational change fatigue and prevent professional burnout, organizations should implement robust change management strategies. They need to prioritize effective change management practices, provide clear communication and involve or inform employees during decision-making.
Source: CleverPlato AI Magazine