It’s not about the software. It’s about your user’s relationship with it.

Once upon a time, in an office not unlike any other, there was a buzzing excitement in the air. The era of floppy disks was slowly fading, replaced by the new promise of Lotus SmartSuite. I remember, as a budding tech enthusiast, being over the moon when my company embraced the cutting-edge world of Windows and MS Office.

As someone deeply engrossed in the training and development sector, the potential of these new tools was thrilling. Microsoft Excel became my newfound obsession. The sheer magic of automating tasks with the click of a macro was exhilarating. However, not everyone shared this excitement. To my bewilderment, a large fraction of the office staff met this digital transition with disdain. It was my first tryst with the stubborn beast named ‘resistance to change’. I often pondered, “How can they not see the vast horizon this opens up?”

So, your people have all the power at their fingertips, but they don’t know they have it! Not too long ago Microsoft sought the expertise of a colleague of mine to propel MS Office into the workplaces of several prestigious clients. As the proud representatives, we were elaborating on the synergies of MS Office, SharePoint, and the wonders of OneNote. I distinctly recall demonstrating ‘How to manipulate a pivot table based on filter criteria, eliminating the tedious task of copying and pasting 50 times’.

But the auditorium’s atmosphere swiftly transformed. A lady, irate and incredulous, dashed out, leaving a trail of whispered murmurs behind. As I cautiously proceeded with my presentation, she barged back in, exclaiming: “IT WORKS, IT WORKS, IT WORKS!” Confusion gave way to clarity as she elaborated on her brief exit. She had been so sceptical about our claims that she decided to put them to the test then and there. And lo and behold, it worked! The procedure that once took her team 10 days to complete, she realised, could now be accomplished in a mere 6.

My colleague, in his characteristic cheeky manner, quipped: “While your discovery is commendable, this feature has been around since Microsoft Office 2000.” The room filled with a blend of laughter and gasps.

The heart of this tale? While companies pour fortunes into software licenses, be it Office 365, D365, Oracle, SAP, and the like, productivity remains an elusive dream. With three decades under my belt, I’ve realised it’s not about the software. it’s about the user’s relationship with it. Employees aren’t tasked with becoming software experts; their primary role is to perform their job efficiently.

The solution? It’s not merely about understanding the software, but more about embodying its essence. When an employee perceives themselves as a guru of a specific tool, their productivity soars. This isn’t just about head knowledge; it’s a matter of heart and hands too. Knowing the ‘why’, understanding the personal benefits, and mastering the ‘how’ are all integral.