One of the biggest, but overlooked challenges in a company, is change adoption. Have your employees exhibited a lack of motivation, fatigue, or even burnout? The chances are they’re resisting change in a new phenomenon known as change fatigue. Since COVID-19 corporations have each experienced a seismic shift in employment including widespread job losses, hybrid working, and a shift in priorities. What can your company to do to tackle change fatigue in 2024?
Understanding change fatigue
The great resignation, quiet quitting, and career cushioning? Change fatigue is one of the latest corporate buzzwords to join the list. In 2023 change fatigue was on an upwards trend, making its rounds amongst HR research on their employees.
The average employee experienced 10 planned enterprise changes in the past 12 months alone (2023), and they are getting fatigued. Willingness to support organizational change collapsed from 74% of employees in 2016 to just 43% in 2022.
Gartner survey
These figures correlated with a lower intent to stay in their respective organizations. In addition, just 43% of employees who experienced above-average change fatigue intended to stay with their organization, compared with 74% of employees with low levels of fatigue. This concept can significantly impact productivity, morale, and overall well-being within an organization.
Change fatigue manifests when individuals experience a sense of exhaustion and disengagement from their work due to prolonged exposure to change. This can include organizational restructuring, a change in leadership, technology implementations, or shifts in processes and procedures. As humans, we naturally gravitate towards stability and familiarity. When these elements are frequently disrupted, it can lead to feelings of stress, anxiety, and burnout.
Symptoms of Change Fatigue
The first step to tackling change fatigue is identifying the symptoms. Some common signs and behaviors of change fatigue include:
1. Decreased Productivity: During the implementation of new processes and technology, employees may find themselves working at a slower pace. Employees may struggle to focus on tasks or meet deadlines due to heightened stress levels and distraction caused by ongoing changes.
2. Resistance to Change: Individuals often display resistant to change of new initiatives or processes, while holding on to familiar routines. It is a common symptom of change fatigue and can be a clear indication of the incorrect or lack of change management processes.
3. Increased Absenteeism: Change fatigue can lead to higher rates of absenteeism as employees look to disengage from their stressful environments. At this point, absence is an indication of what’s to come, leading to higher turnover rates and subsequently more expensive hiring costs.
4. Low Morale: A sense of disillusionment and apathy can permeate the workplace, resulting in low morale and team cohesion. All it takes is one employee for a domino effect to take place. Modern research even suggests stress is contagious and spreads just a cold would.
5. Physical Symptoms: Extended exposure to stress can lead to physical manifestations, including headaches, fatigue, and disrupted sleep patterns. When these symptoms manifest physically alongside emotional strain, it indicates that employees are experiencing burnout.
Strategies for Overcoming Change Fatigue
Addressing change fatigue requires a multifaceted approach that prioritizes communication, support, and resilience-building. Here are some effective strategies to consider:
1. Transparent Communication
Open and transparent communication is essential for managing change effectively. Leaders should provide clear and consistent updates regarding the rationale behind changes, their expected impact, and the resources available to support employees throughout the transition. This is the first step of an effective change management strategy.
2. Employee Involvement
Involving employees in the change process can foster a sense of ownership and empowerment. Encourage feedback, solicit ideas for improvement, and involve staff in decision-making wherever possible. This collaborative approach can significantly increase employee buy-in and reduce resistance to change.
3. Resilience and Agility Training
Investing in resilience training can equip employees with the tools and techniques needed to adapt to change more effectively. This may include stress management workshops, mindfulness exercises, or resilience-building seminars aimed at enhancing emotional intelligence and coping skills. Agility training or agile project management refers to a methodology used in project management that emphasizes flexibility, collaboration, and iterative progress.
4. Recognize Achievements
Amidst the challenges of change, it’s important to celebrate successes and acknowledge the efforts of employees who adapt and excel in their new environment. Recognizing achievements, no matter how big or small, can boost morale and motivation during times of transition. Certain individuals find the validation of their work a way to be seen and heard at work.
5. Foster a Supportive Culture
Create a supportive and inclusive culture where employees feel valued, heard, and appreciated. Encourage peer support networks, mentorship programs, and opportunities for social connection to foster a sense of belonging and team. Create company initiatives that set you apart and put employees at the center of the company. The cultural experience your employees seek will influence their performance and expectations in the workplace.
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While ‘Change fatigue’ was trending in 2023, it has existed long before then, and will continue to be a prevalent challenge for organizations in the years to come. As Gen Z start their working careers, employment trends and expectation will continue to shift and modify HR strategies. By recognizing the symptoms and implementing proactive strategies, businesses can navigate change more effectively and mitigate its negative impact on productivity. Transparent communication, employee involvement, resilience and agility training, recognition of achievements, and fostering a supportive culture are key pillars in addressing change fatigue and fostering a resilient workforce.
Implement effective training and change management to reduce change fatigue with Lemon Learning. Use our unique hybrid support including software and unlimited local support from the Lemon team to increase digital adoption and significantly decrease support costs.
