If we treat our people like robots, is digital transformation even possible?

For years, corporate work environments have been celebrating the robotic efficiency of humans. So much so, that almost every human that works in those environments has started measuring themselves against a robotic standard.

We glorify "productivity" as the number of tasks we can get done in a day.

But let me ask you this...how many of those tasks NEED to be done in a day? How many of them contribute to the end goal of the business...which is making enough impact in someone's life that they'll pay you for your services?

If we all stop asking these types of questions, then we've really become robots.

And digital transformation becomes IMPOSSIBLE...no matter how much money you throw at the problem.

Here's the thing...transformation is only available to humans.

And the more we de-humanize the work environment, the more we get stuck in our current position; which generally does NOT equal growth.

If you want your company to grow, you have to embrace your people's humanity to transform.

And the people need to know how to embrace their OWN humanity.

Oh, and have the space, safety and belonging to be able to do that.

THIS is why so many digital transformations go wrong.

Because we're convinced that the problem is our software. Or maybe a process. Either way, we're convinced someone else can just come in and "fix" the problem.

But humans aren't machines.

You can't just come in and "fix" them.

People aren't "broken", so "fixing" them isn't a relevant conversation.

A machine someone CAN come in and fix. But how your people show up to do work? To change that it takes a commitment from YOU (I'm talking to you, CEO's). And from THEM (and not just because you told them they have to).

You have to SEE them. You have to HEAR them. You have to RESPECT them. You have to APPRECIATE their unique contributions.

Well, you don't have to. But then you might as well leave digital transformations for another company...because it's not going to work.

So, if all your people are at the end of the day are numbers and lists of tasks, you need to take a long, hard look at your internal community before you invest in a "solution" that will "fix" your problem.

If you're at all interested in building digital influence, you need to believe in the power of community. The power of people. And not in all people being the SAME. But in capitalizing on the unique aspects of each of your people.

Because that's something your competitors can't copy ??