Hi

Working from home 90% of the time means I'm either shut in my home office staring at my laptop and monitor screens, or I'm on my phone. There's not much middle ground, really.

This week, I'm on a deadline for a client and apart from the usual procrastination (yes, I see the irony of admitting this in a productivity-themed newsletter), I had my first ocular migraine. The usual trigger is, apparently, stress, dehydration, and low blood sugar. It was quite pretty actually - like having a disco ball malfunction in my peripheral vision.

But I did take the hint. I stepped away from the screens, had something to eat and drink, and gave my eyes a proper break.

However, this got me thinking about the bizarre contradiction we're all living: we're simultaneously drowning in digital overwhelm whilst being asked to champion digital transformation. And perhaps more importantly, how many of your team members are having their own "disco ball" moments without anyone noticing?

Until next time

Helen

When digital fatigue meets digital transformation

Let's be honest about what's really happening here. Your people are exhausted. They're drowning in Slack notifications, Zoom fatigue is real, and their phones are pinging with updates every three minutes. Yet here we are, asking them to embrace even MORE technology as part of the transformation agenda.

No wonder resistance feels like pushing water uphill.

But digital fatigue and digital transformation don't have to be enemies. In fact, when you acknowledge the human reality behind the screens, you unlock authentic engagement with change.

3 ways to humanise digital transformation

1. Tell the human story behind the tech

Stop leading with features and start, instead, with feelings. When you're communicating about new systems, don't begin with "This platform will streamline our processes". Start with "I know many of you are wondering how this will affect your daily work, and that's exactly what we need to talk about".

Your role isn't to sell the technology - it's to help people see themselves successfully using it. Share stories about real people navigating similar changes. We need to acknowledge the learning curve and paint a picture of what confidence looks like on the other side.

2. Use channels that actually listen

During digital transformation, most communication flows one way: from leadership down. But the people closest to the work often have the most valuable insights about what will actually work in practice.

I worked with one of my clients to establish "Reality Check Sessions" during their system rollout - informal conversations where teams could share what was genuinely working versus what sounded good in training. These weren't complaint sessions; they were intelligence-gathering opportunities that helped to shape how the change was communicated and implemented.

Your job isn't to defend the technology - it's to bridge the gap between what the technology promises and what people need to hear.

3. Translate digital complexity

The biggest communication challenge in digital transformation isn't explaining what the technology does - it's helping people understand what it means for them. When IT says "integrated workflow optimisation", teams hear "more complicated procedures".

I see part of our role as translation. Instead of broadcasting technical benefits, help to facilitate conversations about practical impact - such as "When a customer calls with this type of query, you'll now be able to..." "The bit that used to take you twenty minutes will become a three-click process"

Focus your communication energy on helping people visualise their success with the new tools, not just understanding their functionality.

Creating digital boundaries that support (not sabotage)

The most successful change leaders I work with aren't the ones who communicate most frequently - they're actually the ones who communicate most intentionally.

In our rush to keep everyone "informed" we've created communication overwhelm that actually reduces understanding.

What if the solution isn't more communication, but better boundaries around how we communicate? Sometimes the most radical thing you can do is reduce the noise so your important messages can actually be heard.

Something to try:

Take five minutes right now and conduct your own "digital noise audit":

1. List every digital touchpoint your team currently uses for work

2. Mark each one as either "Essential" or "Could live without"

3. For the "Essential" ones, ask: "Does this actually serve our change goals, or just make us feel busy?"

You might be surprised by what you discover.

If you're leading a transformation that involves technology but struggling to get your team genuinely excited (rather than just compliant), let's talk - email [email protected]

or visit - www.hamcom.co.uk