Converting the technologically hesitant.
I wrote a reply to a piece on David Alison’s blog that I’d like to share the gist of. David was discussing how some people are resistant to technology.
This reminds me of 20 years ago when I was working for the police and we introduced computers to police stations. We made it optional to use them. So all the younger cops leapt onto them, but all the oldies stuck to safety of their typewriters.
In no time at all though, the oldies were using the computers too. Why? Because they saw how much easier it was to redo reports (that nearly always needed changes). A quick edit, and press the print button. Unlike the typewriter where the whole report had to be retyped.
This story tells you three things:
1) People resistant to technology will only change when they can clearly see a value to them.
2) That change is most likely when it’s their peers who demonstrate the advantage.
3) And not so obviously, there’s safety in having someone local - especially peers -to hold your hand. (In my story, the young police in the stations.)
So if you are trying to get a person or people onto a new technology, let their peers do the evangelizing.
