In the realm of digital transformation, it’s crucial to remember that organisations don’t change—people do. Effective change management hinges on ensuring that your employees are genuinely on board with the new technology you introduce. This requires a clear understanding of “What’s In It For Me?” (WIIFM) by your team members. While this concept isn’t new, it often gets overlooked or treated as a mere formality.
The Importance of a Genuine WIIFM
Let’s say you’re a call centre manager and you’ve found a cutting-edge technology that can help your team close 20% more cases per week by automating follow-up emails. If you present this to your team as an opportunity to handle 20% more cases, they’re likely to feel burdened rather than excited. They will see it as just more work for the same pay, without any personal benefit.
Sharing the Benefits
A more effective approach is to share the benefits of the new technology between the organisation and the employees. Instead of building your business case based off a 20% increase in cases, consider setting a goal of 15%. This way, you can tell your team, “We have this new technology that will reduce the time you spend drafting emails. With this tech, we expect you to complete an extra 15 cases per week. But here’s the exciting part: you’ll be able to achieve this in 4.5 days. This means everyone will have half a day each week to work on a special project of your choice or attend training courses.”
Now, as an employee, this sounds enticing. Not only does the organisation benefit from increased productivity, but the employees also gain extra time for personal development or special projects. This shared benefit transforms potential skeptics into enthusiastic supporters.
Turning Detractors into Advocates
Ultimately, the organisation invests in technology to improve efficiency and productivity. However, if you can ensure that your employees also see a direct benefit, you’ll turn them from detractors into advocates. This shift is crucial because successful change management is more than just good PR—it requires real substance and tangible benefits for your team.
Key Takeaways for Effective Change Management
- Understand WIIFM: Clearly communicate what’s in it for your employees when introducing new technology.
- Share the Benefits: Balance the benefits of new technology between the organisation and the employees.
- Be Genuine: Ensure that the benefits you promise are substantial and not just lip service.
- Create Excitement: Present the technology in a way that excites employees about their personal gains.
- Turn Skeptics into Advocates: By showing genuine benefits, employees are more likely to support and advocate for the new technology.
Conclusion
Excellence in change management lies in ensuring that your people are excited about and adopt the technology you implement. By focusing on a genuine WIIFM and sharing the benefits, you can foster a culture of enthusiasm and support around new initiatives. Remember, effective change management is not just about promoting the technology but ensuring there’s real substance and tangible benefits for everyone involved. This approach will help you turn potential detractors into passionate advocates, driving the success of your digital transformation efforts.
