Technology is now a fact of life, entwining itself into nearly every industry and place of business. We refer to the process of adopting and implementing new technology in the workplace as “digital transformation,” and it’s supposed to, when done properly, improve productivity and make life easier for everyone involved. In a perfect world, digital transformation would always go off without a hitch.
Alongside digital transformation comes another strategic IT plan, known as the road map. This plan lays out the future of your business’s technology so that you can make changes and upgrades that fit your needs and cause minimal interruption in your production and services. But since we don’t live in a perfect world and new tech often comes with new challenges, like getting everyone on the same page, what does the implementation of tech look like beyond these buzzwords? And just as importantly, how can you lead and inspire your team through the evolution of your business’s technology?
Make New Tech a Team Effort
One of the best ways to introduce new technology to your team is to frame it in a positive light. While no technology is perfect, and you may have some hiccups, talking about how incoming tech can save you time, money, and resources is a great way to get everyone excited about new systems and software.
It’s also important to impress upon your employees that new tech is a team effort. Talk about how it will improve productivity and efficiency for EVERYONE. You also need to create an atmosphere that says, “we’ll all learn this together.” When you lead by example and pose technology changes and upgrades as having a positive impact throughout your organization, people are more likely to get on board.
Prioritize Training
While it is critical to frame new tech as a helpful tool, there is always a learning curve. To combat this and be able to get your money and your team’s time’s worth out of your new technology, be sure to set aside ample time for training. That includes you, too. As a leader, you should be able to understand and utilize all of your business’s technology. Making yourself available, present, and visible during in-person and live virtual training sessions is a great place to start.
You also need to ensure that your training methods reflect that all people learn differently. Having a variety of options for your team, from live training to self-paced tutorials to written and audio materials, makes people feel seen, heard, and valued. You can also encourage your team to learn the new systems and software with low-stakes gamification or contests between departments; for example, the department that wins “New Tech Trivia” at the weekly staff meeting gets pizza for lunch or a bonus casual dress day.
Gather Feedback
Whether you’re undergoing your first digital transformation or on Step 10 of your IT road map, feedback is vital. Be sure to check in with your team regularly to see how they’re progressing with learning and using your new technology. Looking for common feedback across the board, such as a software feature causing a hang-up for multiple people, can help you tailor more effective training.
You should also continue to lead by example by following all your tech policies and learning alongside your team. If you want them to remain onboard and get value from new software and systems, you also have to show that A) you understand the tech and B) you are using the tech as intended. If you have individual team members struggling to learn or straggling in proper usage, talk to them. An honest conversation can help figure out what’s holding them back and find ways to support them moving forward.
Need More Assistance?
If you and your business need more assistance with digital transformations and IT road mapping, you don’t have to go it alone. Technology changes so quickly these days that if you aren’t a dedicated IT professional, it can feel like an uphill battle just to stay up to date. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Even if you already have an in-house IT department, you can find a partner in your local MSP.
An MSP, or managed services provider, works with you to ensure you’re getting the best value from your technology, either through co-managed services that align with your on-premises IT team or fully managed services that take the workload completely off your employees. Plus, an MSP can connect you with a virtual Chief Information Officer, or vCIO, and a Technology Alignment Manager, or TAM. vCIOs and TAMs bring exceptional expertise to create, plan, and implement your business’s IT roadmap, including handling everything needed for changes and upgrades.
Get Ready to Tackle Your Next Digital Transformation
Are you ready to lead the charge on your business’s next digital transformation? Still feeling unsure about finding ways to upgrade to the tech you need, while leading by example, while also getting all your employees on board? Take a deep breath and get in touch. There are IT professionals available to answer all your questions about IT road mapping and preparing your business for each and every transformation.
