In the Digital Age, Success Still Lies in the Human Element
As businesses (and our world) become more and more digitized, it can be easy to forget how people remain one of, if not the most, valuable assets you have within your organization. The human element is at the heart of your company, and when successfully married with digital intelligence/technology, it will provide you with a steady edge over competitors who are quick to forget the importance of people.
We’ve discussed the significance of moving towards digital maturity within your organization, and the fact remains that you will get left behind if you do not digitize certain aspects within your business; but this does not mean you leave your people behind as a result. You want to ask yourself where digital transformation fits within your organization, how it will be used, and by whom. Some will recognize a clear benefit in enhanced technology, but many, especially if kept in the dark on how it will impact them, may feel a sense of opposition.
It’s common for people to feel uncomfortable with the unknown. By shifting the cultural norm and addressing how people respond to change, resistance can be minimized. Enhanced technology within your organization means needing to have a staff with an innate ability to change and adjust quickly. Cultivating a culture of agility allows you to provide engaged employees with the opportunity to become more active. Mindsets will begin to shift and become readily adaptable to continuous change, right alongside your digital processes.
Transparency by means of early involvement in the digital process is key to keeping people at the core of your work. Enhanced buy-in happens when employees feel a level of ownership in a plan surrounding their work, or the organization as a whole. While you may not be able to include every person every step of the way, it is imperative to remember that no matter how much technology is implemented, employees are the ones responsible for how a department is run day-to-day. Their perspectives are invaluable, and soliciting feedback or input can be a relatively easy process (think digital surveys vs one-on-one meetings), leading to stronger buy-in. Identify a few key employees who are more open to change, and get them more involved in your processes. You’ll slowly create internal champions for the digital changes being implemented.
The pandemic launched us all into a digital world in more ways than we could have imagined. Not only are we upgrading technology and software at a faster rate, we have more employees than ever before who are working flex or fully work-from-home schedules. Trust, space and time to collaborate, positive reinforcement, and encouragement are no less important when technology is at the forefront of how you operate. Respect for vacations, sick days, families, personal passions, and hobbies - along with crystal clear expectations that are consistent and fair (without micromanaging) - remain key factors in keeping people at the forefront of your business. The reality is technology, when implemented correctly, doesn’t mean removing people from your business. Instead it has the innate ability to make your business better - by making your people better; more efficient. Communication has the opportunity to become more clear and concise. Projects can be finalized and refined at a faster pace. You pull your business forward by putting your team first; by providing them with the resources, and the technology, to refine their skillsets.
Buy-in across your organization (at all staff levels) is imperative to transforming your business into a digital operation. Upgrading in the digital era is about so much more than a shiny new website or upgraded software, and an estimated 70% of digital transformations don’t achieve their objectives due to cultural/employee resistance. The technology is important, yes, but the people (operating model, processes, culture) are almost always the determining factor for success.
By continuing to put people first, by remembering the who within the why of your work, you gain a much larger chance at success; not only for the new processes you’ve implemented, but the overall advancement of your business. In short, let’s continue putting the human back into Human Resources. If you’re not sure where to start, Powerhouse HR can help.
