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As businesses brace for continuous waves of disruption — driven largely by AI and digital transformation — a newly released national study warns that many organizations are reaching their limit on how much change their employees can reasonably handle.
The research, conducted by internal communications consultancy The Grossman Group in partnership with The Harris Poll, exposes the widening gap between leadership expectations and employee capacity when it comes to navigating change.
Too Much, Too Fast
Most employees can realistically absorb one or two major changes each year. Despite this, over half of business leaders surveyed plan to introduce three or more large-scale changes within the next two years. The mismatch presents a growing risk of failure, burnout, and disengagement.
AI at the Center of Complexity
Artificial intelligence is already a driving force behind about a third of current business transformations, and its role is only expected to expand. While 83% of leaders see AI as essential to future change, a quarter admit that it’s also the most challenging to implement effectively.
The High Cost of Failure
Roughly one in four major change initiatives fall short of their goals. When that happens, the consequences are steep: employees report rising stress, dissatisfaction, and an increased workload — often triggering higher turnover.
Communication and Leadership: The Make-or-Break Factors
The study shows that organizations with clear, credible communication are twice as likely to succeed in their transformation efforts. When employees are fully aligned and bought in, success rates triple.Â
However, nearly 25% of employees say their leaders don’t communicate change clearly — exposing a serious trust and perception gap.
Leadership visibility also emerged as a critical factor. The absence of visible, engaged leaders makes failure more than five times more likely, according to the report.
Organizations that approach change with deliberate planning, effective communication, and strong leadership will not only reduce risk but also enhance performance, retention, and long-term results.
