What do we really mean by "fatigue"?

This is a word that is appearing more often, especially in relation to change or to surveys. (Imagine the challenge in doing a change survey!)

For me the danger is we use these terms lazily. I don't believe "change fatigue" means we're tired of too much change, rather it means being tired of too much disjointed, not apparently connected change coming from random places without any real attempt to explain how it fits together or where everything is heading.

Similarly "survey fatigue" doesn't mean too many surveys. It means being tired of being asked to do too many surveys where nothing happens as a result, where you know there is not really any point in bothering, yet the requests keep coming.

Change is tough, we know that. But if it there is a clear plan and a positive change story that helps you to understand why it is happening, how the different elements fit together and where it is heading then people are far more understanding and will look for ways to get involved in improving the change.

Surveys are great when people feel their voice matters. That when they provide insights and responses that something happens. When you do that, you trust more, you feel valued and you're far more likely to do the next survey.

And when we get it right, fatigue becomes something that should only kick in after a good session in the gym.