Thursday, January 30, 2025

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

Change Fatigue

Burnout used to be the workplace experience we all tried to manage and avoid. In 2025, it’s Change Fatigue.

Change fatigue is feeling exhausted or overwhelmed in response to organisational changes. Covid-19 was when we first started noticing this phenomenon as businesses pivoted left and right to keep up with ever-changing government policies, protocols and requirements.

Today we are being bombarded with constantly shifting workplace flexibility & hybrid work policies, AI technology, keeping ahead of competitors, 4 different generations co-working for first time in history, as well as living in the ‘woke’ generation and trying desperately to stay relevant in an ever-changing landscape.

If you haven’t been paying attention and wondering why your team seems so unmotivated at the moment, here’s some suggestions on how to manage change fatigue:
   • Take a beat – acknowledge the change and the angst it may cause
   • Celebrate the changes the team has navigated so far
   • Discuss why the change is needed – provide purpose
   • Understand – uncertainty is anxiety-inducing so be compassionate and patient
   • Plan – create a plan on how to implement and manage the change
   • Communicate – at the heart of every workplace stress is usually subpar communication

If you’ve recognised that someone in your team is experiencing change fatigue:
   1. Schedule a 1:1.
   2. Acknowledge the journey they’ve been on.
   3. Discuss how they may have benefitted from these changes (growth mindset vs fixed mindset)
   4. Celebrate their growth
   5. Discuss how to improve the planning & communication on future changes

The only constant is change; how are you helping your team manage constant change?

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