Digital has brought about a lot of change in business systems, technology, customer relations, and workplaces. Running a successful business in 2019 involves managing a digital organization.
Digital maturity, digital transformation, or digitization? Digital is changing the way that businesses are run and how they succeed. A third of key decision-makers believe that culture is a significant barrier to digital success, followed by a lack of understanding of digital trends (25%)
In a highly competitive market, creating and cultivating a digital mindset is a crucial part of the process. This requires a workplace that embeds digital culture from the top down and ensures employees are informed and engaged.
This article explores five ways that an organization can achieve this.
Transparency is the key to success
Regardless of their position, everyone in the organization should be aware of digital technology’s impact on sales, revenue, and productivity.
We are all part of the digital world. As technology has existed for some time, many businesses have already been digitalized. Digital transformation requires fine-tuned digitalization.
Transparency is the starting point for embedding a culture of this kind. Transparency can be achieved through internal memos or microsites. Social media groups and apps like Slack are also helpful. Senior executives may blog about critical developments, hold monthly open forums, or use Slack. These forums allow employees to communicate with both senior management and each other. They can also facilitate transparency.
Take Buffer, for example. The second value that makes up the culture of Buffer is “default to transparency.” This is achieved by disclosing employee salaries across the entire organization. It informs the wages of every employee along with the formula used to calculate it.
A clear communication line and an open and honest culture will empower your employees and help you to build rapport with customers and clients.
Encourage Collaboration
The workflow is improved when employees can work together and enjoy their time. The ideas fly around the room quickly, and progress is measured in real-time. When people have difficulty working together, they avoid interacting with co-workers, resulting in low productivity.
Teams can no longer work in isolation. To create a digital culture that is productive and effective, it’s important to share insights and learnings between departments. For example, marketing and sales teams should work together to ensure that the messages sent to prospects and customers are consistent. Customer service teams can work with IT on feedback and improvements to systems.
Leaders and L&D departments can promote collaboration by engaging their teams in team-building activities outside the office. So, each employee can see who is behind the ‘Director Of Marketing’ label. This will encourage collaboration and make it easier for employees to empathize.
The interdisciplinary nature of digital is growing. Combining data science, human science, and design opens up new possibilities. This highlights the importance of working across departments and integrating customer-centricity in the daily operations of a business. “Many organizations still haven’t unlocked that potential.” — Francisco D’Souza, CEO of Cognizant
Offer Digital Training at all levels
It is best to provide a training and development program for all levels of employees to ensure they understand digital and its impact on business.
It is important to note that employees do not need to be experts in digital. They may only need to have a basic understanding of their role. A suite of digital programs, from ‘digital literacy’ to specialists, would be ideal for workforce training. This will allow them to learn the necessary digital skills and add value to their role.
Flexible programs can also be beneficial to busy workers. The availability of online programs through an internal or external Learning Management System allows staff to access knowledge when they can.
Accept Risk
It’s not necessary to fear risk. Digital is an excellent medium for experimentation, and businesses can build on the successes to reap huge rewards.
Due to the rapid pace of digital technology, agility is critical for a workforce. Risk also plays a role in this, as leaders should create an environment where employees feel comfortable trying new things. This approach is only practical if the employees have the right skills and mindsets to make the most of the available data and insights. Digital natives and start-ups are excellent sources of outside talent to help with disruptive thinking. Frontline workers like the customer service team can be empowered with detailed account profiles or purchase histories.
Digital technologies and insights combined with a digital mentality can enhance a workforce’s knowledge and allow them to perform their daily tasks more effectively. This tactic is based on trust and a culture of openness that embraces innovations.
Aspire to inspire
Digital presents many opportunities, but more companies should take advantage of them. In a digital age, innovation requires a big-picture approach.
Let’s take the New York Times, for example. It set a lofty goal for its staff to double digital revenue within five years. This was a challenging but inspiring task. This aspirational mindset has led to a rapid growth in digital subscription revenues, now at 1,5 million only digital-only subscriptions. This type of thinking will help them continue to thrive and grow.
Digital disruption will not go away. New entrants will continue to challenge the way things are done. A mission that puts digital and big ideas at its core can inspire employees to take calculated risks and see things differently.
Digital technology offers many opportunities to businesses and their workforce. Employers must provide more in a highly competitive market to retain and attract employees.
These five strategies can help you build a digital workplace culture that bridges gaps between management and employees. This will also help cultivate a culture of openness that encourages communication and collaboration and increases productivity.