{"id":5885,"date":"2025-05-18T03:55:35","date_gmt":"2025-05-17T19:55:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cicserver.com\/managing-change-fatigue-in-the-generative-ai-era\/"},"modified":"2025-05-18T03:55:35","modified_gmt":"2025-05-17T19:55:35","slug":"managing-change-fatigue-in-the-generative-ai-era","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cicserver.com\/de\/managing-change-fatigue-in-the-generative-ai-era\/","title":{"rendered":"Managing change fatigue in the generative AI era"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<br \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Xj4regt4K5zoJZNoYq53h5.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<p>Employees are becoming tired of the rush to implement AI and its different guises.<\/p>\n<p>According to an <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"http:\/\/ey.com\/en_us\/newsroom\/2024\/12\/ey-research-artificial-intelligence-investments-set-to-remain-strong-in-2025-but-senior-leaders-recognize-emerging-risks\" data-url=\"http:\/\/ey.com\/en_us\/newsroom\/2024\/12\/ey-research-artificial-intelligence-investments-set-to-remain-strong-in-2025-but-senior-leaders-recognize-emerging-risks\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\"><u>EY report<\/u><\/a> released in December that measured the pulse of AI investments, half of 500 US-based senior executives reported that they had seen company-wide enthusiasm for AI decline and 54% of the respondents revealed they felt they had failed as a leader.<\/p>\n<aside data-block-type=\"embed\" data-render-type=\"fte\" data-skip=\"dealsy\" data-widget-type=\"seasonal\" class=\"hawk-base\"\/>\n<p>This is indicative of a broader trend that is sweeping the workplace: change fatigue. Though the concept has been mentioned in business management books since the early 2000s, it gained traction when the pandemic turned the working world upside down. The return to offices has left workers feeling exhausted and, now, they\u2019re having to adapt to new technologies.<\/p>\n<p>As Joy Burkholder Meier, general counsel and chief human resources office at application security software provider Black Duck, puts it: \u201cAI presents a new level of uncertainty for the tech world. This is problematic, because employees may see another uncertainty as something not worth sticking around for.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf employees are distracted by the uncertainty of their roles, they can become less engaged in their work and instead spend time worrying about the future,\u201d continues Burkholder Meier. The consequence of this is that some employees could decide to suffer in silence, impacting their productivity, and eventually lead to <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.itpro.com\/business-strategy\/careers-training\/369736\/why-tech-has-become-uniquely-exposed-to-quiet-quitting\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.itpro.com\/business-strategy\/careers-training\/369736\/why-tech-has-become-uniquely-exposed-to-quiet-quitting\">quiet quitting<\/a> and higher levels of attrition.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"set-out-your-strategic-roadmap-3\">Set out your strategic roadmap <\/h2>\n<p>One reason why change fatigue sets in is what Alex Adamopoulos, CEO of digital business services firm Emergn, calls the \u201clong wait for value\u201d. Like with <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.itpro.com\/strategy\/29899\/three-reasons-why-digital-transformation-is-essential-for-business-growth\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.itpro.com\/strategy\/29899\/three-reasons-why-digital-transformation-is-essential-for-business-growth\"><u>digital transformation<\/u><\/a>, AI can be adopted and \u201crolled out with grand intentions, but fail to show tangible progress quickly enough\u201d. Employees can become disengaged when there\u2019s no immediate impact.<\/p>\n<p>For the most part, businesses are aware that <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.itpro.com\/technology\/artificial-intelligence\/ai-is-causing-headaches-in-the-boardroom-as-cfos-and-cios-struggle-for-clarity-on-roi\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.itpro.com\/technology\/artificial-intelligence\/ai-is-causing-headaches-in-the-boardroom-as-cfos-and-cios-struggle-for-clarity-on-roi\">AI can\u2019t deliver an instant return on investment (ROI)<\/a>. A <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.forrester.com\/predictions\/technology-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.forrester.com\/predictions\/technology-2025\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\"><u>2024 survey<\/u><\/a> by IT research and advisory firm Forrester found that half of companies that have implemented AI expect to see an ROI within the first three years, while 44% are playing the long game and don\u2019t believe they\u2019ll see an ROI for at least three years. However, there will be some leaders who are less patient and who may end up being disappointed when they don\u2019t see an ROI within 12 to 18 months, and may decide to axe AI projects before they\u2019ve had time to deliver results.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-FUC3rCaYzCLJWzoxASwUN7\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-FUC3rCaYzCLJWzoxASwUN7 slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\"\/>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">Sign up today and you will receive a free copy of our Future Focus 2025 report &#8211; the leading guidance on AI, cybersecurity and other IT challenges as per 700+ senior executives<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Leaders who set unrealistic expectations are likely to put more pressure on their employees, who, in turn, are more likely to become dissatisfied. The key to avoiding this is to have a <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.itpro.com\/business\/policy-and-legislation\/ai-adoption-rates-uk-europe\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.itpro.com\/business\/policy-and-legislation\/ai-adoption-rates-uk-europe\">strategic AI roadmap<\/a> that sets out both short-term and long-term goals as well as KPIs and milestones. \u201cThe relentless push to deploy AI without any clean strategic alignment leaves employees overstretched and disillusioned,\u201d says Oliver Shaw, CEO of organizational design platform Orgvue.<\/p>\n<p>A lack of strategy can lead to workers worrying about what AI will mean for their role. Leaders should be taking a <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.itpro.com\/business\/business-strategy\/what-does-data-driven-mean-in-business\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.itpro.com\/business\/business-strategy\/what-does-data-driven-mean-in-business\">data-driven<\/a> approach to their workforce planning, adds Shaw. They should be \u201cproactively modeling future scenarios, anticipating skills gaps, and strategically managing talent\u201d to alleviate any concerns their employees might have and to help them to adapt to any changes.<\/p>\n<p>For example, leaders should be asking what impact AI will have on a role\u2019s contribution to revenue, how work affected by AI, specifically <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.itpro.com\/technology\/artificial-intelligence\/generative-ai-vs-large-language-models\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.itpro.com\/technology\/artificial-intelligence\/generative-ai-vs-large-language-models\">large language models<\/a>, can be redistributed, and whether they can find and train AI internal talent instead of hiring externally. According to Shaw, this can result in \u201cnatural workforce movement rather than disruptive restructuring\u201d.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"communicate-clearly-and-build-trust-3\">Communicate clearly and build trust<\/h2>\n<p>Whatever the strategic roadmap, there needs to be clear communication from leaders about how their company plans to implement any new technology. This is particularly true when it comes to what value AI can add \u201cEmployees will be curious about how AI can benefit them in their roles, so having a value proposition ready is important,\u201d stresses Burkholder Meier<\/p>\n<p>Communication helps to build trust, she adds. \u201cIf employees don\u2019t trust leadership to begin with, then there will be skepticism around new initiatives \u2013 AI or otherwise. But, if employees trust you and you have a clear path forward that\u2019s communicated early and often, it\u2019s going to be much easier for employees to manage the change.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Richard Hanscott, CEO of business communications specialist Esendex, agrees with this. \u201cAs much as technological advances are driving the rate of change, people are central to the success of any transformation,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>To guide employees through change, Hanscott recommends leaders maintain open feedback loops and take regular pulse surveys to gauge the general mood of the workforce. Training and workshops that help to build resilience can also equip employees with the confidence and skills they need to manage the challenges and psychological stress that comes with change.<\/p>\n<p>Taking these steps isn\u2019t going to prevent feelings of discontent and disillusionment from setting in among employees in the future, but it means leaders will be better placed to manage change and minimize any disruption.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThose who don&#8217;t adapt their workforce management practices to this new normal could end up <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.itpro.com\/business\/business-strategy\/considering-an-rto-mandate-think-again-if-you-want-to-keep-your-best-talent-brain-drain-is-causing-havoc-for-companies-pushing-staff-back-into-the-office-with-women-and-senior-staff-most-likely-to-quit\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.itpro.com\/business\/business-strategy\/considering-an-rto-mandate-think-again-if-you-want-to-keep-your-best-talent-brain-drain-is-causing-havoc-for-companies-pushing-staff-back-into-the-office-with-women-and-senior-staff-most-likely-to-quit\">alienating their best talent<\/a> and falling behind,\u201d concludes Hanscott.<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Employees are becoming tired of the rush to implement AI and its different guises. According to an EY report released in December that measured the pulse of AI investments, half of 500 US-based senior executives reported that they had seen company-wide enthusiasm for AI decline and 54% of the respondents revealed they felt they had [&hellip;]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":5886,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-5885","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-blog"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cicserver.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5885","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cicserver.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cicserver.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cicserver.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cicserver.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5885"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cicserver.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5885\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cicserver.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5886"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cicserver.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5885"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cicserver.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5885"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cicserver.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5885"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}