"Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master."
Christian Lous Lange
The internet is a weird place, and in the grand scheme of things, it's barely old enough to drive. I remember reading a letter from my grandmother about how much electricity had changed her life growing up in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada. It’s hard to imagine what -40°C winters were like without central heating, and reading about how much time, attention, and sweat went into something as simple as heating a kettle, certainly puts slow loading speeds into perspective.
Electricity was transformative stuff, and by most standards, life got "better," or at least easier. But are we measuring the right variables in our cost-benefit analysis of technological "progress?"
Have we considered the biological costs of divorcing ourselves from nature's rhythms? Or the psychological toll of becoming physically and socially disconnected, adrift in a sea of ubiquitous screens?
Today's pace of technological innovation makes the arrival of electricity feel like the invention of the wheel. But as we sprint towards the future, we might want to check if we're running in the right direction, lest we find ourselves face-planting into a metaphorical brick wall, for ignoring it's impact on people.
Leveraging Technology to Prioritize People
Recently, I met with a client whose company was undergoing massive change in preparation for an ERP implementation. The head of marketing was fretting about how to bring people onboard smoothly and reliably, especially with remote work making productivity as mysterious as the dark web. that so many team members were at a distance and their productivity was questionable at best. Concerns were expressed among the department heads about how new levels of remote working make it hard to measure real productivity and performance.
"If people are already overwhelmed or unreliable about getting things done," they asked, "how are you supposed to get them interested and willing to take on a whole new ERP platform like Odoo?"
Cue my rather epic sermon on the importance of knowing your people, and supporting them through change. (Don't worry, I've saved you the Cliffs Notes.)
"The degree of stability in an organization, depends on the stability of the people within that organization."
In other words:
- Orient your team, prepare them for their roles, and help them understand the value of their participation.
- Equip them with tools and know-how to properly perform in their roles, making sure they can use the tools they're given to deliver consistent results.
- Communicate with the clarity, enabling your team to perform with confidence, and a lasting loyalty to your group. How well your communication is understood is the real measure of your competence.
Remember, technology can't do these things for you—it can only make your job easier by facilitating smooth communication and increased transparency. An ERP like Odoo makes visibility possible, but it takes a person who genuinely cares to guide the team towards their collective dream.
When I finished my impassioned speech, the client paused, looked at me a little stunned and said, "I would follow you into battle."
"To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart."
Eleanor Roosevelt
That "Follow Us Into Battle" Feeling
We can delegate, streamline, and increase efficiency with technology, but we can't replace the tears, sweat, intention, attention, and heart-thumping motivation that make us want to overcome obstacles. AI is advancing faster than most of us anticipated, changing the way we work and communicate. But no algorithm can stir the human soul towards courage or dream up the kinds of thing worth going into battle for!
The only way people will hold their place in this rapidly evolving technical landscape is by showing up to do what people do best.
Care.
Be there—undistracted, present, interested, and attentive. Every aspect of business—every department, client, vendor, employee, and passerby—is making their way through life to the best of their ability, with what they know. When you show up to acknowledge their role in making life a little better and brighter, you'll have another person ready to follow you into the battle for a better world.
"People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care."
Theodore Roosevelt
Enhancing People Power
The only way to get a better world is to build one. Choosing an ERP like Odoo means you can keep pace with technological change and leverage modern efficiency. But technology can never replace the need for understanding and supporting people the people around us.
That’s a job for the timeless part of human nature that risks being tossed aside in our need for speed and "progress."
So while technology speeds ahead, remember to slow down and look more people in the eyes. Sit a little longer on the park bench and check out the view. Smile at the people on the street, the cashier at the checkout and give a little more of what people do best.
You can streamline your operations with Odoo’s workflow automation, monitor performance with Timesheets, and track milestones, budgets, productivity and performance with Odoo’s Project management tools.
But the only way you’ll do any of it well, is by caring about the people who are helping making it all happen. The most powerful tool in your arsenal isn't made of bits and bytes—it's made of flesh, blood, and a whole lot of heart. In this rapidly evolving world of ones and zeros, be the one who adds the human touch.
This is your call to battle:
Technology is moving at breakneck pace, and the future seems hard to predict. But the fundamental truths about teamwork, productivity and morale will never change. So choose your people and chart your course! Your business is the ship, Odoo the compass, and we are your battle mates in greeting the future strong and shining.