---
id: "action-monitor-coping"
type: "action-item"
source_timestamps: ["§ Watch."]
tags: ["management", "metrics"]
related: ["concept-maladaptive-coping", "concept-shadow-ai", "framework-aware"]
action: "Track AI usage metrics to identify task avoidance, withdrawal, or shadow AI usage."
outcome: "Enables timely, empathetic intervention before motivation declines or active sabotage begins."
speakers: ["Erik Hermann", "Stefano Puntoni", "Carey K. Morewedge"]
sources: ["adoption"]
sourceVaultSlug: "hbr-seg-adoption"
originDay: 9
articleStem: "hbr-sig-52-genai-threatening-to-workers"
sourceUrl: "https://hbr.org/2026/03/why-gen-ai-feels-so-threatening-to-workers"
sourceTitle: "Why Gen AI Feels So Threatening to Workers"
---
# Monitor for Maladaptive Coping Behaviors

**Action:** Track adoption and usage metrics (e.g., **GitHub Copilot** engagement) to identify early signs of disengagement, task avoidance, or isolation. Treat these metrics not just as ROI indicators but as **psychological health checks**.

**Outcome:** Enables timely, empathetic intervention before motivation declines or [[claim-active-sabotage|active sabotage]] begins.

This is the **Watch** step of [[framework-aware]], surfacing [[concept-maladaptive-coping]] and [[concept-shadow-ai]] before they harden into resistance.