[Exceptional Influence] Overcoming the Tech Learning Curve
Feeling outdated? Here’s how to learn new technology quickly.
One of the challenges that all consultants, experts and thought leaders face when building their advisory practices is – maybe unsurprisingly – the technology learning curve. You’ve likely felt it yourself. There’s just so much to learn – from CRMs to YouTube to Teams and Zoom and Microsoft to Google Suite to social media, not to mention any proprietary software you need for your practice.
And, of course, you’re doing it all with really no tech support.
This isn’t an unusual story. In fact, when I was trying to move from a PC to a Mac in the early days of my practice, I carried around two laptops for six full months. This was at a time when I was doing a lot of keynote speaking and was averaging two conferences and six flights per week. I schlepped those two laptops all across Australia (and back and forth again!). It felt like I was learning so slowly and just couldn’t keep up. So, I didn’t feel like I could trust my new tech.
I was feeling outdated. And I know that many others in my situation have (and do) feel the same. However there are ways to overcome the technology learning curve. Here’s how to learn new technology quickly.
What’s the technology learning curve?
Technology is like a speed bump. And just like a speed bump forces you to slow down, new technology can slow down your progress as you learn and adapt to it as well.
This is the technology learning curve. It’s the process and time it takes for an individual to learn and become proficient with new technology. While it’s different for everyone and every system, there’s no doubt that we all feel it.
It’s not just the initial difficulty of learning a new technology and trying to understand how it works. It’s also the time it takes to become proficient in the tech so that you can really use it to improve your practice. So, the term ‘learning curve’ describes the challenge and effort it takes to learn the new tech and the time you’ll need to work on it to get the most out of it.
What holds us back from embracing new tech?
There are a lot of reasons we might not want to bother with new technology.
Too busy. The biggest reason is because it is a speed bump. And when you’re in the thick of building your practice, you’re likely really busy. Slowing down, even for new tech that you know will ultimately be a time saver, feels like a recipe for disaster. It’s a challenge just to find the time, and that can hold us back.
Fear of failure. Not understanding new technology can lead us to worries that we might make a terrible mistake that will undermine our entire practice. And that fear can paralyse progress. Instead of starting learning, we’ll avoid the tech altogether.
Feelings of overwhelm. Some technologies are inherently complex and can be overwhelming. This is especially true if you haven’t had experience with this type of tech in the past.
Lack of support. As a consultant you’re likely operating in your business mostly alone – or perhaps only with the help of a VA or OBM. means that challenges – that may have a simple answer to those in the know – can be massive headaches for consultants. And the worry is that it’ll slow down or halt your progress.
Resistance to change. Change is confronting. In fact, almost a fifth of employees would consider leaving their jobs if a big organisational change occurred. So, it’s natural to feel resistant to change, even when you know it’ll be a benefit for your practice overall.
How to learn new technology quickly
There are a few steps you can take to help you overcome the technology learning curve and learn new technology quickly.
Have a growth mindset
Carol Dweck, American psychologist and Professor of Psychology at Stanford University has done amazing work around growth mindset. A ‘growth mindset’ refers to the belief that abilities, intelligence and talents can be developed over time through dedication, hard work and learning. A ‘fixed mindset’ on the other hand is when a person doesn’t believe they can improve their abilities despite hard work.
By embracing a growth mindset, you can view technology as an opportunity for learning and growth rather than an insurmountable barrier (or speed bump!). You’ll also be able to see that while you’re struggling with a new tool or system, you’re actually making yourself more marketable, efficient and adaptable for the future.
Delegate
As a consultant, it’s easy to fall into the habit of trying to manage every aspect of your business personally – especially when it comes to technology. But it’s important to recognise when a task could be handled more efficiently by someone else – whether that’s a VA, your OBM or even outsourcing to an expert, like a social media manager or copywriter.
Delegation doesn’t mean you’re giving up your control. But it does mean that you’re saving your mental space, energy and time for the jobs that you really need to be doing – such as developing your thought leadership, preparing keynotes or even writing your book!
If your assigned team member becomes the expert, be sure that you get a decent understanding of the tech as well, just in case they decide to leave the team.
Ask for help
The good thing about modern technology is that there’s usually a lot of help available. If you’re starting with a CRM, for example, there are loads of resources from your CRM provider themselves. And there are YouTube tutorials and explainer blogs available as well. This holds true for almost all the technology you might choose. You can also join online forums or hire a local expert to come and help you with some one-on-one training.
Don’t hesitate to seek assistance when you’re stuck. Sometimes, just having someone step in and help, even in a small way, can turn a frustrating situation into a learning opportunity.
Turn your technology learning curve into a technology learning opportunity
When you want to turn your technology learning curve into a technology learning opportunity, embrace it as a tool for growth. Every challenge you overcome will strengthen your expertise and adaptability and, therefore, your practice.