You’re a manager or business owner, and you’ve got a great idea for a problem that’s been plaguing your company for a while. This tech-based solution is going to address a number of different issues, so you bring it to your staff and are surprised by the response that you get, which ranges from lukewarm to outright resistance. What did you do wrong? Why can’t everyone see that this will improve the company? How can you do this better next time? With economic trends dictating business constantly, the steps below can help you avoid some of the pitfalls of introducing new tech to help navigate them.
Don’t Dismiss Employee Concerns
Your staff may simply be venting, or they may have legitimate concerns. You can’t afford to assume the former if the latter is the case, so do listen to your employees. In fact, the best practice is to involve them in the process from the beginning. This doesn’t mean that you will necessarily choose the solution they would, but it does give them a greater sense of ownership. You should also make an effort to reassure them about how the new tech might affect the way they do their job. If you work in fleet management and you are looking at GPS fleet tracking software that uses real-time GPS data, your drivers may feel that this impinges on their sense of privacy. By showing them some of the advantages, such as automating some of the paperwork, you may get them on board.
Do Expect a Productivity Slump
Underneath the objections of many employees is the fear that they will be expected to perform at the same level while getting used to new processes. It’s important to reassure them that this is not the case. Expect to invest some time and money into training, and understand that not everyone will be working at 100% as soon as the new tech goes live. In fact, you could sit down with your team and set certain benchmarks together, reviewing them once the new tech up is up and running to see if they are realistic or if adjustments are needed.
Do Reward Employees
One way to show employees that they are still valued and to reassure them is by offering rewards. For example, in the above example using GPS software, you might offer regular rewards for top efficiency and safety practices among your drivers. Depending on the culture of your workplace, a leaderboard could create an atmosphere of friendly competition.
Don’t Ignore the Possibility You’re Wrong
Tech is exciting. It can be easy to get so caught up in the possibilities offered that you overlook the fact that it isn’t really something that your company needs right now or that will solve the problems that you’re having. This is why it’s so important to listen to your employees and get plenty of input from everyone who will be affected. Ultimately, you may make the decision that despite some resistance, the tech solution really is the best one. With good leadership, your employees will follow you even if they feel trepidation as long as you have shown respect for their positions.
