You can’t be in the business without hearing the word digital disruption. There’s no escape from it, in fact, if you do escape from it, it surely means that your business will suffer. Embracing the changing digital economy is the only way ahead. However, like always, this is easier said than done.
The easiest way though is to transform from within. At the core of every organization are the employees who are the first consumers of the brand. Employees who are equipped to adapt to the changing landscape that has arisen due to digital disruption ensure the success of the organization. But how do you ensure this? How can you transform your workplace culture for digital innovation?
You can start with these five simple steps:
- Get your facts right!
You know you need to get with the times, you need to embrace digital disruption but to what end? What is the outcome you hope to achieve? Simply following the herd won’t get you too far. If you want to stand out, but still be in the race, you need to figure what your key differentiator will be as an offering and how technology can enable it. Once you have that figured out, it becomes easier for employees to understand the importance of the change.
- Practice before you preach
As a leader you need to practice what you preach, before you preach. “Good leaders must lead by example,” is a popular quote that has stayed relevant through the years. A leader who shows willingness to upskill for the digital age can impart their knowledge to the employees. Creating a friendly atmosphere that encourages learning, and asking questions is key to transformational success.
- Can you hear me?
Invite your employees to make suggestions and give feedback on how to improve the workplace culture. As your first consumers, employees will be able to give vital pointers that not only make them feel integrated with the company, but also help in understanding all levels of the organization as well as their needs.
- Set aside time and budget for learning
Having team goals for learning is important, but it’s equally important to find out if an individual wants to pursue a certain set of skills and how you, as a company, can aid them. Not only does this foster loyalty, but you also gain more skills on deck. By allotting a budget, and time on a weekly basis, you can ensure that all your employees remain on top of the digital revolution.
- Shout-Out to…
As the youngsters say- give a “shout-out” to the employees when they achieve a goal, team or individual. Celebrating successes uplift the general atmosphere at the workplace and tend to lead to more productivity.
