Defining your digital culture
While the rapid roll out of digital collaboration tools was a business necessity back when many of us went into lockdown in 2020, many organisations are still not adapting their approach to fit new working environments.
Now that these tools and ways of working are here to stay, Sequel is working increasingly with organisations to tackle continuing digital transformation and what is essentially two big change programmes in one: technical and cultural.
In our Q1 2023 Trends Report we’re exploring the importance of not only launching digital tools and the guidance and governance required, but also of tailoring your approach to better work with the organisation’s culture.
One without the other is like letting the genie out of the bottle – leaving people to find their own way through the digital wilderness – and then trying to put that genie back. A lot harder than not letting it out in the first place.
A few years ago, Sequel compiled a list of the ‘top three sins’ of digital transformation. While lack of planning and ownership were two of the three, the most damaging mistake was leaving employees to work it out themselves.
Indeed, when talking to clients, one of their biggest issues seems to be that they are launching tools but finding that people either don’t use them, or use them incorrectly.
By embracing digital, we’re asking employees to change the way they work, but also to understand digital culture, because every organisation’s approach is going to be different.
In short: if we don’t clarify that specific digital culture for people, they’ll be confused, or overwhelmed, or just not get involved at all.
An organisation’s digital culture and ‘real’ culture should match. For instance, if you don’t have a collaborative culture, just switching on a collaborative tool won’t fix that overnight. If people don’t collaborate in the real world, they won’t suddenly start doing it in the virtual one.
And clients are telling us that these are real issues.
So how do you define and develop your digital culture? Where do you start and what’s available to support comms professionals who are contributing to culture and employee experience?
Read the chapter in our Q1 2023 Trends Report to find out more, but here’s some suggested actions from the report to get you started:
- Define your digital workplace – what tools to you have and how can you best use them
- Clarify which are the right tools for the right task
- Build your employee digital skills through training
- Communicate your digital culture
Request Sequel’s Q1 2023 Trends Report here for practical tips and suggestions from our own work, insight and experts or go to Digital transformation agency – Sequel Group for more details of how we are helping clients solve challenges and delivering imapct.
