Digital skill-building: What's the role of the organization?

Last week, I shared this article on the importance of digital skill-building and pointed out that this is not just the responsibility of the employee. It needs to be a partnership between organizations, people leaders, and employees. Over the next few weeks, I'll share my thoughts on what that partnership may look like and the role each plays in digital skill-building.

Let's start with the role of the organization. The five points below are focused on the groups that support the enterprise including IT, Human Resources, Training, Communications.

Ensure that the basics are covered:

• The tool stack shouldn’t be overwhelming. Organization don't need all the tools or even the newest tools. They need the ones that will work together, not cause a lot of channel confusion and help the employees be productive and connected.
• Resources, guides, and on-demand training should be readily available from the vendor or curated by the tech or learning team.?These should also be easy to find or embedded in the tool if possible.
• Ensure there are opportunities for learning with peers. By focusing on skill-building campaigns and workshops, employees see that it's important. They will also learn from each other and how they use the tools in their own work.

Idea: Create a skill-building campaign such as digital skill-building day/week with contests designed around the tools, quick tips on how to use, spotlight videos of employees sharing tips, and use cases.

Bring senior leaders along on the journey

Senior leaders may feel that there isn’t enough time in the day to learn new digital skills or platforms. But, if they don’t use the tools and processes, then their employees aren't likely to fully adopt them either.

Leaders need to know what tools are available and how to leverage the tools. A few examples:

• If you have a platform where you can host live video, do your leaders know how and why to use it? Hint: It's a great tool to share quick updates and news!
• Do they know how to leverage online discussion boards to engage in conversation with employees across the organization?
• Can they leverage and use tools for an asynchronous conversation like shared online documents, tools like Miro or Mural?

If the answer to the above is no, what is the likelihood that they will change their workplace practices to adapt to a more digital way of working and encourage their employees to do the same?

Give a platform to your power users and experts to share their knowledge

• Do you have an online forum where your experts can share their tips? If not, can you help them form an online group or forum and get started? They may be excited to share their knowledge but not sure how to run an online community.
• Try soliciting use cases or spotlighting employees and have them share how they are using the tools.

Host open tech forums for users to share questions, ideas, and recommendations about features

This can be an open group online or targeted focus groups. These shouldn’t include just power users. It needs to be open to anyone in the organization. Your power users are usually digging into the tool on their own. However, your average user is also someone you want to hear from, as well as someone who is tech fearful. How are they using the tool? What is keeping them from using the tool? You might even try empathy mapping to learn more about how the tools are being used and identify pain points and challenges.

Review what you are doing to support employees that come into your organization

Don’t assume new employees know how to use the tools and don’t put it all on them or the people leader. Set them up for success in your organization by ensuring they know what tools are out there and how to use them.

Idea: Host a fun new hire networking session that also allows them to learn a few of the tools.

Final thoughts

While digital skill-building is important, ALL employees don't need to know or learn ALL the features of ALL the tools. If that was true, then they may be spending more time learning the tools instead of using the tools. However, by helping employees engage in continuous learning and sparking curiosity about the tools, they are more likely to embrace new tools and technology as they are introduced.

What would you add?

This isn’t a comprehensive list. So, what would you add?

Join me next week as I share thoughts on the role of the people leader in digital skill-building.