“Technophobia can be caused by many factors, lack of knowledge or experience with technology, negative past experiences or cultural or societal beliefs that view technology as a threat to traditional ways of life,” said Carolyn E Stebbings, chief operations and inclusion officer, RAPP. “Ignoring it won’t slow that pace of change.”
The use of technology allows for improved data quality which in turn means improved decision making and more ambitious business objectives, but these can only be achieved if the teams utilising the tools are comfortable and confident with the use of the technology.
Reluctance to change
It is perfectly understandable to not like change, but it is a necessary part of evolving a business and adapting to new market demands. The Covid-19 pandemic ushered in a new era of cloud-based operations and remote working that is set to remain in some form or another in perpetuity, but this change meant businesses of all sizes had to source solutions and provide training. Businesses that are not able to adapt accordingly and incorporate new technologies run the risk of being left behind.
“Fear of the new is human,” said Stebbings. “The fear of technology is no different to the fear of heights or spiders, but sticking your head in the sand is no solution. Businesses need to cultivate workplaces that support new learnings, constructive failures and open dialogues to help mitigate resistance and reluctance of their work force.”
Why technology is necessary
In a nutshell, technology is there to make tasks easier, faster, more efficient and completed with a higher degree of accuracy – all attributes that businesses need to thrive. It is imperative that organisations understand the training that staff will require to embrace, understand and not fear new technologies, particularly those that are not in a day-to-day data role. By providing suitable, comprehensive training that caters to all abilities, businesses can extract the most from their teams and help individual staff members to reach new heights.
“Technological change is a necessity because it enables progress and innovation in a wide range of fields, from healthcare to transportation to communication,” said Stebbings. “Advancements in technology have revolutionised the way we live, work and interact with the world around us, and have brought about significant improvements in efficiency, productivity and – when used ethically – can be a social game changer.”
“Moreover, it is necessary for staying relevant and competitive in an increasingly digital and interconnected world,” continued Stebbings. “Businesses and individuals who fail to embrace new technologies risk falling behind and losing their competitive edge.”
“While this change does come with its own set of challenges and drawbacks, such as job displacement and concerns about privacy and security, it is ultimately a necessary driver of progress and innovation in our society and like the Industrial Revolution can be a positive catalyst.”
Solutions for today
What are the steps a business can introduce to enhance staff comfort and reduce resistance to change and improve levels of technophobia?
“Change is challenging and often costly in time or money, but it is essential to thrive,” said Stebbings. “Having a strategy that takes staff with you and foster a culture of daily learning helps this mental, sometimes physical shift. Businesses can encourage experimentation through hackathons, workshops and gamification help to overcome the fear. Organisations should create a culture that values innovation and encourages employees to take risks and try new things – this can help employees feel more comfortable with technology and more willing to embrace new processes and tools. Coupled with a safety net of ‘fail fast’ is okay, employees feel encouraged to try new initiatives.”
“By implementing these strategies, an organisation can help mitigate the risks posed by technophobia and create a more innovative and data-driven culture.”
There are always concerns about investments in time, finances and resources when it comes to training and educating teams, but the benefits of long-term technological comfort vastly outweigh the short-term expense of preparing staff.
