Digital workplace transformation is multi-dimensional
Transitioning to a digital workplace is not as simple as a lift-and-shift. What worked in the office doesn’t necessarily translate in a virtual environment. Unfortunately, many organizations tend to view the transformation too narrowly and limit their change efforts to business processes or technology adoption. The most successful initiatives consider a broader scope and take advantage of the opportunity to redefine their operating model, organization structure, and culture.
This more comprehensive approach may involve and impact employees from the CEO to the front line. It’s natural for the breadth and depth of these changes to seem overwhelming. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be. By following a few industry best practices, you can take steps to make it a smooth transition for everyone.
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C-suite executives who believe digital technologies fundamentally change the way people work
TEKsystems, 2020 State of Digital Transformation
Communication is a 2-way street
The amount of change required to transition to a virtual work environment can cause significant anxiety among employees. People fear new technology, resist new ways of working, and worry about losing relationships or culture. Clerestory leads transformations that reassure people they will be heard before, during, and after the transition. We help our clients to take the following action:
Use focus groups or working sessions to involve employees in design
Go beyond email: get creative when communicating key messages
Invite people to share their feedback through multiple channels
Apply feedback continuously to adjust communications and training
Leverage new technology to compensate for the loss of in-person interaction
Design with your employees in mind
The changes involved in transforming to a digital workforce can be challenging across levels of an organization. Hasten adoption by engaging your people throughout the implementation process. By involving them in the change, you prepare them to embrace new ways of working. To help make the transition as smooth as possible, you’ll also want to:
- Document your business case and establish talking points for each stakeholder group. Employees need to understand what’s in it for them.
- Assess your business goals, company culture, and ways of working to determine if you have the right technology to get the work done.
- Design a governance model that mitigates risk while enabling collaboration.
- Create a digital workplace strategy and build a robust training program to reduce frustration and ease the transition.
