Your team’s silent productivity killers – and how AI can help
Who you sit next to at work might matter more than you think. According to a Harvard Business School study, sitting next to a high performer can boost your productivity by 10-15%, while sitting next to a low performer can drag it down by 25-30%.
This means underperformance isn’t just an individual issue—it ripples across an entire team. But what if the issue isn’t just about hiring “A-players” or removing low performers? What if productivity drains are more complex—like burnout, neurodivergence, or unstructured workflows that don’t match how people work best?
Many employees aren’t inherently low performers—they’re often overworked, mismanaged, or stuck doing tasks that drain their energy. And that’s where AI can be a game-changer.
Signals you shouldn’t ignore in your team
Performance isn’t just about skill—it’s about environment. Here are three common but overlooked factors that could be hurting your team’s output:
1. Burnout is an invisible productivity killer
Burnout is not just a personal struggle; it’s a business problem. A Gallup study found that burnt-out employees are 63% more likely to take sick days and 13% less confident in their performance. A Deloitte study found that 77% of employees have experienced burnout at their current job, and 91% say unmanageable stress negatively affects their work quality.
When employees are in survival mode, creativity and efficiency drop. Worse, their disengagement can spread, dragging down team morale and output.
2. Neurodivergence and productivity mismatches
A Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology study found that workplace structures that fail to support neurodivergent employees can lead to a 20-30% drop in productivity. On the flip side, the CIPD reports that when organizations provide flexibility and task customization, neurodivergent employees demonstrate higher engagement and innovation.
One example? Employees with ADHD often struggle with long, monotonous tasks, even when they deeply care about the work. It’s not a lack of intelligence or motivation—it’s a difference in how the brain processes sustained effort.
3. The mismatch between skill and task energy
Even highly talented employees struggle when they’re stuck doing repetitive, unengaging tasks. McKinsey researchshows that 45% of work activities could be automated with AI, freeing employees to focus on high-value tasks.
However, what one person finds “boring” might be someone else’s perfect workflow.
The challenge? Traditional productivity tools don’t address individual working styles. That’s where AI-driven custom assistants come in.
The AI solution: from energy drains to skill enhancement
AI isn’t about replacing people—it’s about removing barriers to their best work.
- AI can automate executive tasks and busywork – scheduling, reporting, and data entry don’t have to drain mental energy.
- AI enhances decision-making – an MIT Sloan study found that AI-powered tools improve productivity by 20-25% in roles involving complex data processing.
- AI helps prevent burnout – a Deloitte report states that companies using AI for workflow automation see a 30-40% reduction in employee stress and burnout.
Example: a custom AI assistant that helps employees with ADHD stay engaged.
Imagine an AI assistant designed specifically to motivate and support employees with ADHD when they need to push through a long task.
Instead of a standard task list, the assistant breaks work into manageable, engaging sprints.
- It provides dopamine boosts through mini-rewards—like gamified progress tracking or a quick AI-generated voice note of encouragement.
- It detects when focus is fading and suggests adjustments based on energy levels—a short movement break, a focus playlist, or a shift to a different task to prevent mental fatigue.
- Instead of rigid deadlines, it helps structure brilliant ideas into actionable steps, adapting in real time to how the user works best.
This kind of AI isn’t just a “to-do list” tool—it’s a productivity partner designed to empower employees by working with their brains, not against them.
The power of custom AI assistants
The key to AI’s impact isn’t automation alone—it’s personalization. Instead of forcing people into rigid structures, AI can adapt to individual working styles, optimizing productivity without forcing employees to conform to inefficient processes.
- A creative thinker might use AI to handle admin tasks, freeing up time for ideation.
- An analytical mind might automate research synthesis, allowing them to focus on deep strategic thinking.
- A neurodivergent employee might benefit from AI tools that structure information in ways that align with their cognitive strengths.
By leveraging custom AI assistants, companies can ensure that employees operate in their highest-value zone—leading to higher engagement, less burnout, and better results.
Call to action: stop ignoring the signals from your team
The data is clear: productivity isn’t just about hiring the right people—it’s about creating the right conditions for them to thrive. The real question is: where is your team’s energy being drained, and how can AI help them do their best work?
Let us know, we are happy to help!
