Digital transformation is thrilling. New tools and solutions to finally solve those spicy problems lead to endless opportunities to optimise your business processes - what’s not to love? …Right?
Let’s be honest: beneath the leader’s excitement may lie a whirlwind of emotions for the team. Overwhelm, fear of change, lack of accountability, lack of support, even imposter syndrome.
The truth is that digitising your organisation to the next level is as much (if not more) about managing emotions as it is about adopting new technology. Here are three tips to help you navigate the emotional rollercoaster while confidently rolling out those digital transformation initiatives.
1. Embrace Change, One Step at a Time
Transformation doesn’t happen overnight. Trying to overhaul everything all at once is a recipe for burnout, both for you and your team. Instead, focus on incremental changes that build momentum without causing overwhelm.
ACTIONABLE ITEMS:
• Break your digital transformation into smaller, manageable phases to maintain focus.
• Celebrate small wins to boost morale and reinforce progress.
• A step-by-step approach helps your team adapt more naturally to new systems and processes
2. Open Communication = Over Communication
Fear of the unknown is a natural response to change. By keeping communication lines open, you can address concerns and create a culture of transparency that alleviates anxiety.
ACTIONABLE ITEMS:
• Regularly remind your team of the "why" and "how" of the changes. Refer back to your original vision and the practical, real-world scenarios you helped them develop at the beginning of the journey (looking for tips? See our article about that from last month: Pipe Dreams or Practical Change? Perception in Transformation)
• Encourage feedback, questions, and ideas: your team’s input is valued, and they value being involved.
• Communicate in different ways, just like your team does: some will read an email, some will watch a video, and some will appreciate an infographic.
Digital transformation is not about technology; it's about people.
3. Invest in Training and Support
Fear or feelings of inadequacy often arise when teams don’t feel equipped to adapt to new technology. Training empowers your team to dive into this new, digitally-enhanced workplace, but beware: a “one-and-done” approach without ongoing support may lead to avoidance, workarounds, and even resistance.
ACTIONABLE ITEMS:
• Hands-on training demystifies the new tools, building confidence and competence.
• Support systems (like FAQs or access to regular sessions with your internal Systems Champion) reduce frustration during the transition. We recommend these weekly with each go-live, progressively scaling down to fortnightly, monthly, and quarterly.
• Consider other ways you could upskill your team: middle management might benefit from leadership coaching, and your workforce as a whole could benefit from a wellbeing & performance audit.
Digital transformation may stir up emotions.
This is inevitable and provides an opportunity to grow and evolve both as leaders and as teams. By taking small, intentional steps, fostering open communication, and investing in your people, you can transform not just your business but also the mindset of everyone involved.
A well-prepared team is more likely to embrace change enthusiastically and to remember that this journey is not about achieving perfection on the first try, but rather about making iterative progress together, one step at a time.
Remember, the journey of transformation isn’t about achieving perfection; it’s about progress, one byte at a time.
Chat with us and let's gear up towards a success digital future!
