Unfortunately, when hiring an employee, it is very difficult to predict how they will perform several years after getting on board. Not all workers can embrace innovations such as remote work, metaverse conferences, and the integration of AI into work processes. In an age where new occupations emerge every five years and large-scale workflow changes occur even more frequently, workplace dexterity is a skill that can’t be overestimated.
An ideal employee today is a person who not only has impeccable hard and soft skills but also knows how to quickly adapt to new technologies and loves to do it. But what if there are few such people in the company? The business owner then has to make a management decision to improve the digital dexterity of the employees. This article will tell you about the main points that you should pay attention to.
What is Digital Dexterity?
Digital dexterity is the desire and ability of employees to actively use cutting-edge technologies to achieve business operational goals. In fact, this concept includes some other important skills, such as digital literacy, adaptability, flexibility, initiative, and others. For your company to have such workers, you need an integrated approach to their development.
Today, every technology company must be able to quickly retrain employees and change working models. Rigidity and inflexibility can lead to negative results. Why?
- Because your competitors are already innovating and retraining their employees at breakneck speed. With such a competitive edge, they can quickly overtake you. For sure, you won’t like it.
- Because technology connects people from all over the world and helps them communicate effectively to get the job done. Applications and programs make work more efficient and, as a result, increase the productivity of the entire company.
- Because this trend will continue, and it is better to start getting used to it now than to stay forever in the last century.
Methods of Implementing Workplace Dexterity
So, it’s time to talk about methods to improve digital dexterity in the workplace. We are sure that these tips will help in other areas of your business:
- Implement the correct values. It might be worth asking yourself, “Why am I doing this? Am I just making money, or am I aiming for something more?” If you clearly define the values of the company, it will be easier for employees to understand why they should adapt to new technologies. The desire to grow with your firm should be an integral part of employees and managers. When every person in the company follows the values of development, there will be an intrinsic motivation to cultivate digital dexterity.
- Follow a lifelong learning strategy. As we said above, new professions appear at intervals of several years. Progress is inevitable and very fast. Therefore, continuous professional development is a mandatory process in a successful company. This will require some investment but will pay off in the long run. In addition, LLL will increase employees’ self-esteem and offer them new career opportunities.
- Encourage collaboration between departments. Often, in private talks, employees learn new knowledge better than at expert lectures. Sharing experiences and mistakes will help you adopt digital dexterity faster and adapt to new technologies. Horizontal cooperation will also create the perception that workplace dexterity is a common trend and should be followed if you do not want to be an outcast.
- Control the process. Use technology and key metrics to monitor employee workplace dexterity. The development of this skill must be approached with a certain flexibility: someone adapts quickly, and someone will need more time. But if there is a general trend in the company and you can measure it, then you are going in the right direction.
Conclusion
Increasing digital dexterity is not possible without a long-term and clear strategy. Like any other strategy, it should start with the values of the company and a focus on growth and development. Any resistance that arises is a natural reaction that must be treated wisely and technologically. Control employees, train them, and create conditions so that they can quickly adapt to new technologies and work models. If you manage to bring digital dexterity to the workplace, your company will gain a noticeable competitive advantage.
