You’ve done your research, you understand the benefits of using an online time tracking software extensively, you’ve even pitched the business case to your accounts department and you’re finally ready to take the plunge.
The only thing is, you forgot to tell your team. Oops.
If your employees aren’t motivated to use the software, you’re going to encounter resistance. And the reality is, even the best timesheet system will only work if your team is invested and using it correctly!
So how do you win them over?
By framing the benefits of the time tracking software to be relevant to your team.
Wait, that’s it?
Yes, that’s it. All too often managers and senior leadership teams are too wrapped up in the ROI of new initiatives and fail to think beyond the numbers. No doubt understanding the return on investment is important – fundamental even – when making business decisions, but if you’re looking to bring your team on the journey with you, the #human side of your business pitch will need to be considered. People are always more likely to do things when they can see the benefit in it for them.
If you want to increase rapid adoption, your employees need to understand why the new technology is an improvement from what they had before. How will they be positively impacted by the software and its potential? How does the technology tie into the business goals and where you’re headed as a company? This is your chance to rally your team and get them excited about the journey!
You might explain, for example, that with the implementation of the software, your staff will be able to:
- Understand what kind of tasks are taking longer than others. Armed with this information, they will then have the power to make data-driven business decisions. For example, they may find they need to bargain for more time from the client, which in turn might mean less rushed Friday night deadlines (hurray!).
- Work more efficiently and save time. Once your staff have visibility of their time they’ll be able to understand their productivity and answer questions like – what projects are taking the most time? Is the time spent on certain tasks justified?
As a manager, try understand your staff’s underlying motivations and link them to the timesheet software. Do they value working remotely, having more social events, or flexible hours? Or perhaps they want to get out on time to make the gym or catch up with their friends after work? Whatever the case, using timesheet software in the right way will help them have more time for those activities they hold dear.
- Estimate precise project timelines. Having tracked your time in the past will provide a realistic timeframe for projects, enabling you to schedule them with sufficient time for completion.
- Set better hourly rates. Overworked and underpaid? For your staff, understanding their time efficiency will enable them to demand a better hourly rate.
- Uncover their strengths and weaknesses. Time tracking can expose where your staff might have gaps in their learning. This is a great opportunity to get your team excited to learn new skills and show them you’re serious about developing their careers. Link the discussion to training and support that you can offer, such as educational resources, training videos, and plenty of time for directed and self-directed learning.
- Work remotely. If you’re considering a cloud-based time tracking software, an enormous advantage is the ability for your staff to enter time on the go, from wherever they are. End to end project management software WorkflowMax also has a mobile app for iOS and Android, which enables users to stay on top of their jobs and manage time on the go.
As you wrap up your speech on the time tracking software’s glorious benefits for your staff, don’t forget to highlight the product features that will most encourage adoption. Is it user friendly? Intuitive? Customizable?
Finally...remember cultural change doesn’t happen overnight – lead by example and stay encouraging. Your employees will thank you for it. Good luck!
Mallika Goel is the Communications Manager for WorkflowMax, and brings with her four years of agency experience where she worked with some of New Zealand's largest brands as well as more boutique ones. She think life's too short to do one thing, so keeps herself busy pursuing her many interests: an obsessive love of lifting, traveling, and design.
