Bringing power to your people in business automation

Many businesses are using technology to help them achieve better operational efficiencies and engage with customers in more targeted ways. Business automation can be an effective means of improving your business processes and seeing where new technology can result in performance enhancements.  

Make no mistake: many of your people will be excited about finding workplace efficiencies (or even their potential for change). After all, getting the right technology and streamlined processes in place means they could spend less time on manual or repetitive tasks and more time on adding value to the business.  

But business automation can still make many people nervous. That’s pretty normal. Any change to the status quo is likely to unsettle some who might be wondering: what does it mean for me?  

There are a number of things you can do to maximise your chances of bringing your people with you.  

Here they are: our tips to bring your people on your business automation journey  

Be clear on your vision from the outset. 

If you’re looking at ways to introduce business automation, don’t do it behind closed doors. Let your people know as early as possible and give them clear reasons for your actions. It is the key to team alignment and progress. 

Make sure your people understand why you’re doing it. 

The case for change should be an open and honest discussion. Why are we doing this? Why now? What does it mean for our people, our customers, our suppliers? What are the consequences if we do nothing? Where possible, talk about current examples of inefficiency to illustrate its impact, particularly if it’s a shared or commonly acknowledged issue. 

Focus on the positives but be transparent about any perceived negative consequences, real or otherwise. The key here is honesty and sharing mitigation strategies. 

Involve your people in the project. 

They know their roles better than anyone else in the business, including the steps they take to do their work, what their biggest frustrations are and where there are opportunities for improvement. Making assumptions may lead to unsuccessful implementation and/or adoption. 

Communication is key.

Communicate progress clearly and frequently, always aligning communication with your objectives. Without regular updates, people will start making up stories for themselves, and can have a serious impact on morale and engagement.  

Create opportunities for feedback.

Make yourself available to talk to anyone who might have concerns. No exceptions.  

If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

Give your project a timeframe and do everything possible to keep it on track. Many people will interpret delays as bad news and will start worrying. If delays are unavoidable, proactively communicate why – don’t just let it drag out and hope people won’t notice. They will.  

Bring it all together through your project manager  

If introducing business automation is high stakes for your business (and very often it is), choosing the right project manager is essential. The project manager should be someone who can navigate your business and technologies available, but make sure they give enough consideration to the people and process elements of the project as well.  

The project manager could be from within the business if you have someone with the right skillset and capacity to make the project a success. If not, an external project manager might be worth considering. We’d be happy to help you explore your options, please just let us know.  

Positive engagement with your people is critical to the success of any project. But business automation can get personal and these tips will hopefully help.