As you can imagine, being the Tech Therapist, I’m very fond of technology. So much creativity and innovation has gone into designing powerful tools that can make our lives exponentially easier – but to realize the true value of these tools, we have to be able to use them to their fullest.

What stops people from using technology?

Many times, it is a question of confidence. I cannot even begin to tell you how many times I’ve taken notes on my Mac during a meeting while my counterparts were using pen and paper. Using the Mac adds a layer of functionality to my notes: I can organize, search, and share them effortlessly. Additionally, I’m much less likely to lose my Mac than I am a piece of paper! Especially when my notes are always saved to the Cloud.

Yet when I bring these points up to people who question my choice to use tech and ask them why they prefer paper, they often answer something like they’re more comfortable with paper. It’s easier, in their opinion, to use pen and paper. They’re willing to sacrifice the functionality to use the tool they’re used to using.

Well, you can get used to anything if you try hard enough. The only way to become comfortable with your technology is to actually use your technology. If I could convince you to do one thing to boost your company’s productivity this year, it’d be to encourage you and your team to spend some time playing with your tech.

Educate yourself about the technology you have and what it can do. Everything is open to consideration, from your email to Google Analytics. We’re talking about the devices you’re using, but also the software and apps that are part of your everyday routine. Do you truly know the features and capabilities that are available to you?

Watch the YouTube Tutorial videos that are available for your tech. Some of these will be official releases directly from the manufacturers, while others are generated by people who use the tech regularly and want to share what they know.

Make this education an ongoing part of your team’s internal communication process. Have staff members share what they’ve learned about using a piece of tech more effectively. Companies often issue updates about their product’s features and capabilities: have someone read these and disseminate relevant information among all team members.

Doing this will not only make your team more adept at using the technology they have available to them, it will, in the long run, save your business money. I find that many business owners – myself included – choose a particular technology tool to solve a problem. Then when a new problem arises we buy something else.

Why spend money on new solutions when the answers we need may already be at our fingertips? Boosting your tech confidence can be one of the best things you do for your bottom line!