EVIL HR LADY
DILEMMA OF THE MONTH
New Systems Require Proper Training and Patience
BY Suzanne Lucas
ILLUSTRATION : JOHN CHASE
Early next year , our company will begin using new software for most everything we do . It ’ s already so late in the process , so what can we do quickly to ensure that our employees are adequately trained and don ’ t feel like they are on their own ?
The easy answer : Get everyone training !
And even though it ’ s true , it doesn ’ t actually address how complex new software can be . And it ’ s not just about learning new functions and how to run reports in the new system , it ’ s about change . Here are the areas of concern and how to fix them .
Recognize change is hard
It doesn ’ t matter if your old software was developed in the bowels of hell : It ’ s still the system everyone knows . Your employees know that pressing Ctrl K in the existing software brings up the order history , while Ctrl Shift K brings up a list of products , including historical data from 2002 . Everyone knows how to make it work .
Change , even when it ’ s for the best , requires rewiring brains , and that can be challenging . You can spend hours telling people how the new software will revolutionize their lives and make everything more manageable , but there might still be people who just don ’ t want to give up the old ways .
Acknowledge that change is hard and that there will be a learning curve . Offer fun rewards for mastering new skills , like a candy bar or a pizza party , when everyone has completed the training modules . Just letting people know that this is not easy helps with the process .
Pay for good training
The software implementation can often cost a fortune , especially if it ’ s
14 comstocksmag . com | December 2020