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Your employees are talking about your technology. Do you know what they’re saying?

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In every office on the planet, employees spend part of each day chit-chatting about the good and the not so good that goes on at work. The “water cooler conversation,” whether physical or virtual, is just part of our DNA.

When it comes to the topic of your workplace’s technology, do you know what your employees are saying? And, perhaps more important, do you want to know? Even if you suspect you might get less than satisfactory feedback on your current technology investments, I encourage you to brave the uncharted territory and find out what your workers really think. You might be surprised at what you learn, and your findings also might help you map out your technology investment strategy more effectively.

One way to get this kind of intelligence is by hosting an office technology roundtable. In this session, you invite all employees to gather in person with the sole purpose of discussing the role of technology in your workplace: what’s working and what’s not working when it comes to their use of technology at work.

Possible questions could include:

  • How does our technology help you do your job more efficiently?
  • Do you ever feel that technology is slowing you down, rather than saving you time? If so, in what instances?
  • Does our technology foster collaboration among colleagues and clients, and if so, how? If not, how would you envision technology improving collaboration?
  • Which software and/or programs do you use most frequently? Least frequently?
  • Do you ever find it quicker and easier to do a job-related task on your personal technology than on workplace technology?

Additionally, if your workforce encompasses a wide range of ages, it might also be interesting to find out how different demographics are using and benefiting from workplace technology. Perhaps the Boomers and Gen Xers could use some guidance from Millennials on how best to maximise social networking technology. Or maybe more seasoned employees could address issues of using technology as a tool, not a tether, and being mindful of the dangers in being so “socially connected” that you actually hamper your productivity.

If you take us up on this idea, we'd love to hear about any interesting findings that surface.