AI, Leadership, and the Hidden Cost of Efficiency
The Behaviour Shift
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As the AI revolution gathers momentum in Australian workplaces, a critical leadership challenge is emerging: how do we balance progress with purpose?
In my thought-provoking LinkedIn newsletter, I explores the hidden human cost of AI implementation. While businesses chase efficiency gains, the real risk lies in what’s quietly being lost: meaning, morale, and mental wellbeing.
Take the example of a Sydney tech firm that recently automated 30% of its internal processes. What should’ve been a major win led instead to declining morale and a spike in resignations. The reason? People no longer felt purposeful.
Tasks that once acted as moments of mental rest (admin, filing, emails) are being stripped away, leaving only high-intensity, cognitively demanding work. In trying to eliminate inefficiency, many leaders are unknowingly creating burnout.
I think that Australia stands at a crossroads. We have a chance to lead the world in responsible AI integration or become the next cautionary tale, much like what happened with social media: good intentions, but unguarded execution.
This piece challenges leaders, executives, and HR professionals to ask better questions before it's too late. What work are you removing, and how is that time being reinvested? Are your people becoming more capable or just more replaceable?
Technology is a tool. It's up to leaders to ensure it lifts people up, not wears them down.
🔗 Read the full article on LinkedIn to explore the four powerful questions every leader must ask before rolling out AI.
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