I’m a self-proclaimed raving fan of ‘80s and ‘90s television. Thanks to the modern era, many of the shows I vaguely remember in the background of my childhood have become staples in my household. I laugh as I stream “Cheers”, the ‘80s bar comedy, and Sam Malone sits in his office with a mostly-empty desk -- no computer in sight. Things are much different now as software, apps, and programs are the essentials to modern work.
At my core, I believe technology can streamline operations and turn complicated tasks into time-saving workflows. So why is that sometimes renowned software can cause headaches, slow team members down, and lay by the wayside as employees opt to do things the way they’ve always been done?
Adding technology is a lot like onboarding a new employee, a potentially expensive one at that. You don’t mind the cost because the outcome will be big! But imagine your existing team blows off meetings with your new, promising employee. They’re even yelled at and criticized during the few meetings that do take place. A few weeks of this and your shining star sits idly by, none of their skills being put to use, and they’re still collecting a paycheck. I’ve seen it happen time and time again.
People on the front line who are expected to incorporate new tech into their day-to-day routine can often find it difficult to set aside time to learn new software. They’re already busy with things they have to do. Training videos and courses can be overwhelming when the to-do list is piling up and it’s not always clearly communicated how the technology will make their lives simpler. Many times, decision makers have a clear vision of how this new technology will impact their company, but that vision isn’t communicated to the team members working in the new software day-to-day. Without a clear end goal in mind, employees can feel like they’re drowning in potential ways to use the software with little or no direction. It leads to frustration, headaches, and sometimes resentment towards the technology and the people who decided to implement it.
I don’t have to tell you that technology is here to stay. When team members are comfortable and excited to use the software, efficient workflows can shine. To make it a more seamless process, here are a few simple recommendations.
Schedule one-hour “get to know you” sessions with no agenda other than spending time using the platform. Some team members may go through menu by menu and others may look up how-to articles on their own.
If you are expecting certain reports or data to flow up, let your team know so they focus their learning on what will make the greatest impact.
Create an environment where they can share their constructive thoughts about new technology, whether their experiences are positive or negative. Anonymous surveys can go a long way!
Let them know who they can contact if they have questions. If the new software has a rocking support team like we have at AdvicePay, encourage your employees to utilize them and make sure their contact information is easily accessible.
Start off on the right note by being transparent about the change and be open to feedback. Technology can be an amazing tool, but it takes a human touch to set the wheels in motion.
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