The term digital mindset refers to the ability of employees to understand digital processes and to communicate their background to other colleagues. The better this succeeds, the more positive it is for the company, because today simply no one can get around the latest technologies.
First of all, it is important to clarify what a digital mindset actually is. There is no clear definition, but a description of the content should do the job. Basically, the term digital mindset encompasses all of a person’s behavioural dispositions and personality traits that determine how they act, think and feel in instrumental and social contexts of action that are significant in the area of digital transformation. They give structure to actions and channel them if necessary. However, this process cannot be observed directly; it can rather be read and experienced indirectly from the results.
Why is a digital mindset important?
In today’s digital world, it is necessary to use different ways of thinking to establish, understand and communicate new business models. Only in this way can a sustainable change take place within one’s own corporate culture and the transformation towards new technologies take place successfully. It is important here to filter out the right employees for this task. While some seem to be real natural talents who manage the access very easily, others need a much longer time to get used to the new technologies. The focus here is on learning, adapted to the concept of lifelong learning. This includes the fact that people never stop learning and must always be ready to acquire new knowledge in order not to be left behind and be on a par with others.
Lifelong learning is a requirement
This basic structure of information processing has never been more important than in the New Work. Anyone who wants to stay up-to-date and appreciates flexible work must inevitably be familiar with the associated technologies in order to realise this claim for themselves. These new technologies include first and foremost laptops and smartphones plus the corresponding programmes. For many, this introduction and its use is not easy, because a lot of new knowledge in dealing with the media is required. Knowledge that cannot be learnt before starting a new job, but which is constantly brought into focus in the course of work. If you have understood the basics, you have already taken a big step forward in your digital mindset. Now it’s all about the details. All software solutions must be understood, otherwise they cannot be successfully applied in the New Work. This requires mental flexibility and the external willingness to deal with these topics again and again.
It doesn’t work without digital mindset
For many companies, the digital mindset is a basic requirement for entry and, of course, for advancement. If you want to make it far and enjoy all the benefits, you have to do something. For superiors, therefore, the question often arises as to who is suitable for these new tasks at all and who would be better off not switching? Only those who can successfully take up the concept will be able to implement it efficiently. It is helpful to work in teams to train the digital mindset of each individual accordingly. This can be useful, especially where it is not yet sufficiently present. Those who know help those who don’t yet know, and they in turn encourage a clear examination of the content. This closes the circle of those who have learned something new and can apply this knowledge in their everyday work. To achieve this, different planning times may be necessary. And, it remains to be mentioned, it can happen that not every employee can fulfil the requirements and wishes. Some may fall by the wayside.
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