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will find it easier to address them. If you are implementing or advocating new technology, ensure that
everyone has ample time to get comfortable with it. Acceptance of technology across a group seldom
comes all at once. It’s likely to happen gradually. Allow people to learn at their own pace. Recognize
some may struggle with the change. Encourage fast learners to help teach those who take a little
longer.

Want to learn more? Take a deep dive…

Davidson, E. (n.d.). The advantages of new technology for businesses. Chron.
HBS Working Knowledge. (2014, January 6). Technology re-emergence: Creating new value for old
innovations. Forbes.
Sylva, J. (2012, August 17). Leverage technology for business transformation [Video file]. Harvard
Business Review Blog Network.

10. Out of touch? Stay on top of new communications technologies. Technology has created a
world that is far more interconnected than ever before. Social media has transformed the way people
interact with their personal and career networks. Blogs have given people new forums to express
their views and share their wisdom. New teleconferencing, instant messaging, and desktop video
tools can enable real-time, face-to-face chats with team members across the globe. In our virtual
world, distance is no excuse for falling out of touch. Stay current on collaboration technologies.
Gartner Research (www.gartner.com) is a great resource to check out the latest technologies and
how they apply to your business. Consider how you can use new technologies to build and
strengthen relationships. Think about how you can keep dialogue flowing through new media. Scan
the Internet to learn what others are saying about your field, organization, or industry. Make new
connections via the Internet. Get to know people you’d never otherwise have a chance to meet. Build
a presence on social/virtual platforms. If you rely only on a limited range of well-established
communication tools, you may miss out on the discoveries, discussions, and insights that are
happening online.

11. Uncertain what the future holds? Stay in touch with experts and innovators. Being tech savvy
doesn’t require you to be a computer genius or a brilliant inventor. However, it does mean being
knowledgeable of what these innovators are doing today, and what impact emerging technologies
might have on your business. Get familiar with the technology press. Read publications like Fast
Company and Wired. Find out who the technology gurus and big thinkers are in your field. Follow
them on social media. Learn what’s coming and consider how you can capitalize on tomorrow’s
technologies. What’s most relevant to your role? What is going to make a difference to the
organization going forward?

12. Confident about your technological edge? Stay attuned to disruptive innovations. Technology
brings change. These changes bring opportunity, but they can also cause upheaval. The internal
combustion engine spelled doom for horse-drawn buggies. Digital cameras, now commonplace,
created brand-new markets and competition. One CEO of a popular school picture company put it
this way: “Suddenly every mom with a camera was the competition instead of the customer.” The
Internet has created markets, killed off markets, and transformed many others. Retail, publishing,
music, and countless other industries face new challenges and opportunities. No organization can
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