We humans feel a whirlwind of emotion in the face of (sudden) change – excitement, fear, positivity, anxiety. It’s a constant barrage of ups and downs.
Relocation to live and work in a different city or country is one of those life-altering changes, and no matter how prepared we feel, the emotional rollercoaster is coming with it.
Before and after a move overseas, most people move along the same 'transition' cycle. There are good days, bad days, days of adjustment and understanding, days when we feel like we just don’t belong, and days that feel like this might work out pretty well after all.
It’s the bad days, however, the dips in that transition cycle, that make moving one of the top stressors in the world.
As an employer, a growing international business, or as an employee, you’ve probably either tackled the stresses of relocation first-hand or dealt with its consequences in the workplace.
Whether it’s a drop in productivity or unhappiness at home, these consequences can be devastating and leave a lasting emotional and financial impact in many cases.
Now, what if I told you that the answer to this increasingly common global mobility problem lies in Artificial Intelligence (AI)?
What if AI could prove to be that one tool that helps overseas employees deal with the stresses of transition, help them quickly adapt and thrive wherever they go?
Where Therapy Falls Short
The conventional solution to dealing with stress and anxiety of any kind is to see a therapist. While coaching and psychological treatments can be helpful, they hardly serve as the 'companion' we need when we're in the thick of transition.
The low points come out of the blue – homesickness one morning when you're commuting to work, or the sudden urge to be with family when the holidays are around the corner, and you see families huddled around fires with hot chocolate.
For many of us, this can lead to a downward spiral that holds us back from settling into our new homes.
But you can't reach your therapist or counselor right then when you need comfort and conversation. You have to wait until your appointment at 3 pm on a Thursday.
AI can bridge the gap by serving as your pocket companion. You can have on your fingertips articles, videos, support material, and even a Live Chat to help you through those times – more support and exactly when you need it.
AI for Self-Actualization When We Need It Most
Self-actualization is an active method of self-help or self-fulfillment that a lot of us rely on consciously or subconsciously. It guides us back on the forward-moving track when we veer off, especially in the face of a big change like relocation.
But when things are turbulent, and our internal compass needs a little rewiring, AI can prove to be an effective support tool.
If you have been through the experience of relocating to a whole new country yourself or seen your employees through the transition, think about this: Wouldn't it have helped to have a tool or a platform that checked in on how you felt? Something that asked you a structured set of questions and gave you a few tips and tricks to feel a little more equipped to take on the challenges of your new environment?
With AI’s exponentially-growing possibilities,and bots being as intelligent as they are today, it is very possible to ask the right questions, predict a user's state of mind, and serve as an intuitive in-pocket compass.
AI also serves its users as and when they like it. At a time when little seems to be in your control, that autonomy comes as a blessing.
Through Generation Mobility (GenM) and in all that I do beyond GenM too, I want to see people thrive wherever they go in the world.
The goal is to make the transition as comfortable as possible and provide practical and reliable solutions that can be implemented daily.
It took me years to find my feet when I relocated to Norway six years ago. It's become a personal goal to shave those years off of as many people's journeys as I can.
Alicia Partee
CEO
Generation Mobility AS
