Digital transformation: boost your team’s engagement!

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION INVOLVES A LOT MORE THAN TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE. IN MOST CASES, THE PROCESS BRINGS ABOUT AN EVOLUTION OF THE BUSINESS CULTURE AND A CHANGE IN YOUR TEAM’S HABITS. IN A CONTEXT IN WHICH CHANGE IS EVER-PRESENT, HOW DO YOU FOSTER YOUR EMPLOYEES’ COLLABORATION AND MOTIVATION?

Changing our ways of doing things isn’t easy, particularly if our habits are deeply rooted. A whole range of emotions comes into play, increasing opposition to change.

Here are 8 tips to minimize this resistance and make your digital transformation a success.

1.  Share your vision

Develop an inspiring vision and promote it throughout your team. Executives and employees, no matter what their department, should be united by the will to move forward together and achieve common goals.

For some organizations, this involves change at the level of the business culture. An overall team spirit has to predominate: silos are eliminated in favour of information and knowledge sharing. Collaboration, open-mindedness and constructive communication are essential attitudes to introduce at every level.

2.  Communicate on a regular basis

Explain the results targeted by digital transformation. Your team needs to be aware that changes are necessary in order for goals to be achieved. Still more important: all team members should understand that they have an active role to play in the success of the transformation and that their contribution is valued.

Consider deploying communication strategies throughout the project. By opting for a variety of formulas, you’ll reach a variety of profiles. Meetings, discussions, written documents, videos and forums, among other things, can be planned.

3.  Create a sense of urgency

Digital transformation is now indispensable. How does it apply to your company? Clearly lay out the market situation and the solutions chosen to remain competitive. By demonstrating the urgency and necessity of the proposed changes, you’ll increase support for your plans.

4.  Consult your employees

Encourage the employees concerned to become involved in choosing and implementing solutions. For example, gather their opinions on what needs to be done, be open to their suggestions and invite them to systems demonstrations. If their tech knowledge is limited, this is a perfect opportunity to explain how the transformation will make their work easier and boost their performance.

Creating a committee dedicated to change adoption is another useful option. By including a variety of profiles (departments, hierarchical levels, individuals in favour and against, etc.), you’ll encourage the development of a plan that works for the majority of employees.

5.  Listen to concerns

In the face of change and the unknown, it is normal to experience anxiety. When team members share their concerns and get a response, their understanding of the project increases and they adapt more easily to innovations.

Provide your employees with the means to express themselves – and to be listened to – beginning with the initial phases of the transformation. By keeping the lines of communication open for the duration of the process, you’ll be able to react quickly to concerns and allay worries.

It’s important to address rumours without delay in order to defuse situations and ensure that accurate information is circulating.

6.  Support the roll-out

Be sure your team receives the necessary training to feel confident with the new technologies connected with their jobs. In addition to theoretical courses, it’s important that all employees are proficient in using the tools provided to them.

Interpret resistance to change as a stop sign. Take the time to identify the source of the resistance and the way to remedy it. If your team encounters a problem related to the implementation or operation of the new technology, a solution should be found before moving ahead with the changes. It’s also possible that specific employee concerns are involved. In this case, how can you help them overcome their fears or challenges?

By rapidly eliminating obstacles, you encourage commitment to the changes and accelerate your digital transformation.

7.  Generate quick wins and celebrate successes

Starting with the initial phases of the project, get into the habit of motivating your team by publicizing successes. Promoting awareness of the tangible gains made by the digital transformation helps win over employees who are resistant to change.

Incentives for adopting new technologies could also be considered. For example, you could offer bonuses to employees who accept and adapt quickly to changes. Similarly, employees who are finding the transition more difficult might benefit from additional support.

8.  Consider expert assistance

For most companies, managing the changes connected with digital transformation is far from routine activity. Whether your specialty is industrial mechanics, French pastry or corporate finance, it’s normal to feel a bit overwhelmed.

That’s why assistance from digital transformation experts is a wise choice. Their experience allows them to facilitate communication, anticipate challenges and react quickly when there’s a problem. From defining your project to training your employees, their advice and support are valuable assets.

Thinking about taking the digital transformation plunge?

Contact our experts – they’ll be happy to discuss it with you!

References:

(1)Les Affaires, Gestion du changement : comment bien négocier le virage

(2)BDC, How to overcome resistance to your tech project