AI is adding strain and satisfaction at the same time. 41% of employees (and 48% of managers) report added mental strain from AI, yet more than two-thirds of regular AI users say they’re more satisfied with their jobs since using it.
That’s one of the findings I shared last week when I spoke on empathy and AI with more than 2300 leaders at the annual ESOP conference.
AI is taking over more mundane tasks, helping us to jumpstart work and avoid procrastination, and allowing us to delve into other fields and expertise that would have prohibited us from tackling ideas and projects before. All of that means that we are able to do higher quality work, faster.
Which is good.
Right?
A few other key findings: Almost 60% say the bar for “good enough” is higher than it used to be. And, among frontline workers who are regular AI users, 42% save 8 hours a week. But two-thirds haven’t received any guidance on what to do with that time, and more than half aren’t investing it in more strategic work.
As Alberto Bellé put it in CIO Magazine, “AI isn’t taking their job away; it’s offering them a bigger one.”
So here’s the thing. A bigger job doesn’t always feel like an opportunity. Without support, it can just feel like more pressure. How do we provide that support so that people can thrive while reaping the benefits of AI?
1. Make room for moonshots. Those 8 hours a week are an invitation. What are the ideas, projects, and parts of the job that your people never had time to explore, the ones that excite them and give more back to your clients? Help them find those, and give them permission to chase them.
2. Celebrate what’s now possible. People are getting things done that they couldn’t before, and the bar keeps rising, so those wins disappear quickly. Don’t let that happen. Build in time to pause and reflect on all that people are accomplishing. Celebrate wins. Make progress visible.
3. Keep connecting. Some of the time that we’re freeing up should allow for more human connection. Encourage the potluck lunch, the coffee break, the Friday afternoon hallway wander. Some of the best ideas, collaborations, and friendships are borne of those loose connections.
The technology is changing so fast, but who we are and what we need–to feel engaged, valued, and connected–hasn’t changed at all.
