When I started my first job at The Learning Company back in 1999 we were shipping CD Roms in boxes. Our team ran a well oiled process that drove successful launches on an annual basis. We would work like crazy up until the launch and then move into a slower period to plan for the following year’s release.
Fast-forward to my time at Adobe when we launched Creative Cloud and moved to a cloud-based subscription model that led the industry in the SaaS revolution. It was great for business and admittedly difficult for teams to shift into the new way of working. Management needed to figure out how to get people to work in shorter iterative bursts, take initiative and stay accountable, all while not burning out. It was a tall order and not everyone made it through unscathed.
Now with the onset of AI, we’re in another industry shift. I’m seeing things from a different perspective in my role as Head of Executive Coaching at Glatco. For our clients, both technical leaders and teams, the pace with which AI is changing the landscape is creating tighter deadlines with rapidly evolving requirements and the pressure to produce more. The landscape is shifting under our feet—and it can be exhausting.
Many development teams are finding themselves at the edge of burnout, quietly asking questions like:
- Are we keeping up?
- Will AI make our work obsolete?
- Why does it feel harder than ever for us to focus?
- How can we still be productive when we’re mentally drained?
These are valid concerns, and you’re not alone. The demand for more output with fewer mistakes—and now, with more AI-assisted efficiency—is creating a paradox: we’re expected to move faster, but also be more careful, strategic, and accountable. The result? Mental fatigue, loss of motivation, and a dangerous dip in team morale.
The good news is that there are some lessons from past industry shifts that we can apply at this moment.
If you’re leading a team, or you’re part of one that’s navigating the tension, here are five strategies to support recovery from burnout and re-ignite sustainable productivity in the AI era:
1. Normalize the Burnout Conversation
Don’t pretend everything’s fine when it’s not. Open the door for real conversations about burnout. Create space in post-mortems, 1:1s, or team check-ins to talk about what’s draining energy—not just what’s blocking the sprint. When teams feel psychologically safe enough to speak honestly, it becomes easier to collectively find solutions and redistribute load.
Burnout thrives in silence. Productivity grows in trust.
2. Redefine Productivity Beyond “Lines of Code”
With AI tools generating entire functions in seconds, the traditional metrics of productivity (how much code you wrote today) are outdated. Focus instead on problem-solving, code quality, creative collaboration, and technical leadership. Make it clear that the value of a developer isn’t in typing speed, but in thinking strategically, asking the right questions, and building resilient systems.
In the AI era, your value is not in competing with the machine—it’s in doing what it cannot.
3. Build AI Literacy, Not Pressure
Instead of expecting the team to instantly master every AI tool, make learning part of the workweek. Hold low-pressure demos, peer-learning sessions, or AI exploration days where developers can play, fail, and ask questions. Build a culture of curiosity instead of anxiety.
AI is not the enemy—it’s a tool. Give your team time to learn how to wield it.
4. Create “Focus Zones” in the Work Week
Context switching kills momentum. Burnout often hides in the form of constant interruptions. Build protected focus blocks into your calendar: no meetings, no pings, just time to think and build. Encourage team-wide participation and protect it as fiercely as you would a production environment.
Deep work is restorative. Protect it like uptime.
5. Prioritize Sustainable Pace Over Hero Culture
Long nights and weekend fixes might feel necessary in the moment—but they create a cycle of diminishing returns. Establish norms that prioritize rest, balance, and boundaries. When a team works at a sustainable pace, they deliver consistently, not just during a crisis. Celebrate smart solutions and collaboration—not martyrdom.
The best teams aren’t the ones that burn the brightest. They’re the ones that burn steady.
Final thought:
This is a turning point—not just for the industry, but for how we lead and work together.
Yes, the pace of change is fast. Yes, AI is altering the developer’s role. But humans are still at the heart of software development—and when we treat each other as such, we build stronger teams and better products.
Let’s stop pretending we can outrun burnout.
Let’s learn how to work through it—together.
Want to explore how executive coaching or facilitated team sessions can help your software team stay aligned and energized during the AI shift? The experts at Glatco have been there and can help.
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