With the continual development and release of new and better technological products for businesses, there is a need to incorporate new software and equipment in your office to stay relevant. However, there is usually some friction when managers bring in or impose new tools and software on their employees in the wrong way.
Change management is an essential skill that needs to be in the repertoire of every effective manager. Using effective change management strategies will help you bring new technology into your office with ease. Your team will be more likely to readily accept the changes and will be better able to appreciate the benefits that such tools can bring.
Let’s look at some effective tips for introducing new technology for your team to use.
Make Sure It Is Actually Useful
As a manager, it is important to choose the right software that will actually benefit the workflow of your teams. If the software or tool that you have in mind is only of use to yourself, then it is unlikely to receive a warm reception with your staff.
Make sure to give careful consideration before making any large changes, or change things too frequently. The more fumbles you make in this regard, the less smoothly future changes will go.
Make The Announcement Early
Provide plenty of advance warning before bringing in new technological changes. This will provide your team with ample time to mentally adjust and prepare for the transition. At this stage, you might also try to identify and support champions of the change within your team. This will improve buy-in and increase your chances of a successful implementation.
Provide Meaningful Training
New technology is only as useful as the people who will be using it. This makes it important to provide sufficient and meaningful training for your team regarding the new technology. Make sure that people have a good handle on how to use any tools or software before expecting them to use it well.
Provide Extra Resources
People learn differently and your entire team will not be able to use the new technology after a few training sessions. To accommodate the diverse learning needs of your team, be sure to provide additional and supplementary resources for the new tool. It can also demonstrate that you are taking the change seriously if you compensate your employees for any training they take on independently of what is minimally required.
Demonstrate The Benefits
Employees will be more likely to buy into a new technology if the benefits are readily apparent. When presenting the changes to your team, be sure to highlight where the tool can be used most effectively. It can also help to provide case studies or examples of how other teams have used the technology to save time or money.
Take Feedback Seriously
Your team will likely have lots to say about any new technological changes in the office, even if they buy into its use. Be open-minded and take any and all feedback seriously. This will show your team that the changes are not simply being imposed on them from above, but are part of improving the collaborative process in your office.
Implement With Success
By following these steps, you will dramatically increase the chances that any new technology you introduce will be received quickly and warmly by your staff. Be sure to take lots of time to make the transition, though this depends on what the new technology actually is. Take things slowly and make each step of the transition clear and you will be on your way to a more productive office.
