Even the most casual observer can notice how quickly technology changes the nature of a business. Indeed, you don’t have to go back very far to the days when the BlackBerry was considered a major tech breakthrough for an office manager. However, then as now, the key to leveraging new business technology is training employees properly. After all, it doesn’t make much sense to invest in a new data tracking software or a digital phone system and not take the time to teach your team members how to use it. With that in mind, we’re here to offer a few hints at how business owners can integrate their newest tech upgrade smoothly. Check them out here:
Give Plenty of Notice
Surprises are great for birthday parties, but awful for business productivity. Yes, sometimes an opportunity to upgrade your internal process comes along quickly and there’s not much a business owner can do to prep their staff for a change. However, more often than not, entrepreneurs know well in advance if they’re going to make a significant alteration to their tech setup. Even if you don’t know exactly how you’re going to proceed, giving your employees a quick “heads up” will go a long way toward getting them on board with the inevitable adjustment.
Use Outside Resources
Perhaps you understand the ins and outs of a new web app perfectly. On the other hand, there’s no shame in using outside resources and videos to supplement your training sessions. If you watched a video that helped you appreciate a tech upgrade, then chances are that video will be beneficial for your team as well.
Don’t Assume
In order to get the most out of a tech upgrade, you need a base understanding of a more common concept. For instance, before you can start optimizing your website, you have to know how to operate a CRM. Never assume that your team members understand and grasp all the terms that you do. Often, people won’t ask questions in group settings –– so make yourself available for further explanation after your sessions.
Practice on an Outsider
Practice really does make perfect. It’s no surprise, then, that the more regularly you teach others, the more adept you’ll become at it. Consider asking a friend to sit down with you for a few minutes so you can run through your presentation with them. It doesn’t matter if they don’t know anything about your business’s new line of 20 UL pipette tips or how to set up a workflow –– if an outsider can make sense of your lesson, then you’ll know you’re onto something!