Top 3 Key Challenges of Accelerating Digital Dexterity

The advance of hybrid work models brought forward such terms as digital dexterity — i.e., employees' preparedness for mastering new technologies and using them to increase workplace productivity. 

According to Gartner, digitally dexterous employees can accelerate business transformation by 3.3x, which is extremely important in any increasingly digital sector. The fastest adopter gets the most valuable customers and partners. 

However, McKinsey reports that most enterprises that invested in digital transformation received only one-third of the expected value. So, what is the truth? Is innovation adoption worth the effort and the resources?

The short answer is: yes it is. 

Lackluster results are usually directly related to the approach to digital dexterity and the measures taken to inject it into an organization. In this article,  I'd like to break down the key challenges to mastering digital dexterity, explaining their impact on the enterprise's chances of a successful transformation journey. 

What are the key obstacles to a digital-ready workplace?

 It makes sense to address the elephant in the room: it’s the technology that has adapted to new conditions. Meanwhile, people are still getting there. 

Merely five years ago the concept of remote or hybrid working was alien to many businesses and companies. It was an exception to the rule, not a common alternative to 9 to 5 office routines. 

And right now the hybrid workstyle is among the top employee expectations. For many leaders and executives, the change came too fast, too soon. Adjusting to it isn’t a matter of technological change, but of changing the mindset and approach to enterprise operations. 

Therefore, the main barriers to infusing organizational change with digital dexterity are the following:

• Lack of communication

Employees aren't mind readers. They can't predict how executives expect them to respond to technological improvements or what results they expect to gain. This is why before tech executives and leaders make their final transformation decisions, they need to gather feedback and consider the preferences of the people who will be interacting with the innovation. The key to ensuring efficient digital dexterity is treating the transformation

process as if it were meant for clients, with their core needs and comfort in mind. Human-centered design and personalization lie at the heart of digital experiences—-and this is something leaders need to keep in mind. 

• Lack of clarity

At least 50% of employees admit that poor communication impacts their job satisfaction, increasing stress and burnout. However, the harm brought by communication barriers doesn’t end there. It also sabotages successful innovation adoption and prevents employees from mastering new technologies. For instance, if employees aren’t timely informed about the change, they lose confidence. Accordingly, if they don't know what their enterprise will be adopting and why the change is needed, they will be more likely to resist or avoid interacting with the innovation if they can. 

As a result, the innovation will deliver less effective results while consuming valuable resources. 

Additionally, I'd always suggest investing in visualization, storytelling, and additional materials to assist employees with embracing the technology. In our practice, applying extra effort for fuller clarity and better user experience has always enabled our clients to increase employee engagement and faster onboarding.

• Lack of professionals 

Following the PwC HR Tech Survey 2022, 17% of digital dexterity challenges have been caused by insufficient technological knowledge. Such complication is understandable: leaders can advocate innovation and evangelize its importance. 

However, when it comes to explaining how it works and, most importantly, what to do in cases when the solution doesn't perform correctly, they often need assistance. Cooperating with experts who can provide a detailed description of the tool and instructions for using it is a guaranteed way to close knowledge gaps and receive a 360° awareness of the value brought by the new solution. 

Meaningful change brings impactful results

It’s not thought leadership that drives great digital dexterity. It’s thoughtful leadership. 

Business leaders need to enrich their vision of transformation with the real concerns and experiences of their employees and managers. How can they do it?

• Building clear feedback loops

It’s essential to communicate and manage change every step of the way—and it’s a collective effort. Executives need to take care of creating communication channels and feedback systems that help them evaluate the responses of their teams and see how they react to the change from start to finish. 

• Providing education

There can’t be too much information. Employees will always have concerns and doubts regarding digital transformation, from “I don’t know how to use it. Am I in trouble?” to “Am I not good enough if we need this change?”. The leaders’ task is to nip these doubts in the bud by providing teams with all the instructions, onboarding, and materials they need to benefit from the technology. Letting them participate and explore the value of new solutions through presentations, illustrations, and training courses (if necessary) will considerably facilitate innovation adoption. 

• Consulting with diverse experts

While detailed enterprise knowledge is always a plus, it is also important to know how technology capabilities and business goals align. This is where tech executives may struggle—and, therefore, they should be ready to ask for assistance. Reaching out to technology experts with experience in embedding technology into enterprise operations can enrich business vision and enable a clear, transparent exchange of information across all teams and departments. 

Following these steps helps leaders to inject their idea of digital transformation with a dose of reality. While it may turn the tables on the exaggerated expectations, the executives will be able to see the bigger picture—and every team’s place in it. As a result, a more grounded perspective makes it possible for businesses to increase the number of eager and digitally dexterous employees across the organization, expanding the variety of growth opportunities.