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Throughout my personal journey, through various consulting roles and product management roles for tools creators, I have come to understand the unique relationship between consultants and the tools they use. It has been customary for the "tooling" consultant to interact with company admins, while the "transformation" consultants engage with executives. However, I find it perplexing that many consultants involved in digital transformation tend to avoid utilizing tools that are specifically designed to streamline their work. This avoidance ultimately hinders progress, limits collaboration, and undermines the quality of service delivered to clients, including executives. In this blog post, I will explore the importance of embracing tools for digital transformation consultants and showcase some of my personal favorites that have made my job effortless. And yes, I will unapologetically endorse Lean Agile Intelligence as one of these invaluable tools!
Embracing Tools Fosters Collaboration
Tools encourage collaboration, irrespective of the geographical location of the collaborators. My go-to tool for this is Atlassian's Confluence Cloud, a tool I wholeheartedly recommend to any firm. Ditch your outdated SharePoint POS and invest in a solution that requires minimal training; many end users won't need any training at all if you organize it with them in mind. What I especially love is the guest collaborator feature, which enables speedy, easy collaboration, and a single source of truth. So, if you're a transformation consultant reluctant to use tools, at least consider Confluence for collaboration. It's incredibly simple, and you won't need an analyst or junior consultant to operate it. Here's one personal way I use Confluence to stay healthy and collaborate with folks who wouldn't normally use Atlassian products.
Tools Aid Communication
In the realm of effective communication, tools serve as invaluable guides to ensure your message resonates with your intended audience through your chosen communication channel. That's why I rely on the exceptional capabilities of Jasper.ai, a tool I discovered through the insights of transformation consultant Marty Bradley. Jasper acts as my personal copywriter, editor, and tone checker, offering invaluable assistance in crafting my message. As someone who values brevity and conciseness, especially during multitasking or when in the zone, I appreciate how Jasper allows me to input my thoughts while leveraging my pre-set voice. With a quick check to ensure no unexpected additions (which can happen occasionally), I confidently hit send. This simple investment of an extra 30 seconds in rephrasing my direct approach consistently yields a superior experience for the recipient, all without disrupting my workflow. You can see below how I used tone detector in Jasper.ai for this paragraph. If it was something I didn't intend, I would rewrite it, leveraging Jasper.ai for help 😊
Tools Enhance Creativity
Tools can also spur your creativity when crafting your message. My go-to tool for this is Canva. Ever since I learned about Canva from my friend and software developer Tatyanna Cobb, I've been hooked! I never want to use PowerPoint again for a presentation (unless I absolutely have to), and the ease with which I can translate my ideas into digital images is astonishing. I also recently discovered its integration with social media channels, allowing you to schedule your content creation right through Canva! Definitely worth checking out if you need to create any visual content. Even the landing page when you sign in provides a ton of value and options! Absolutely LOVE Canva!
Tools Validate Your Change Efforts
The final tool I'd like to spotlight is Lean Agile Intelligence. If you're spearheading a transformation, you need this tool. So many times I’ve talked to a customer going through a transformation and they say "We are agile and everyone is doing the agile things… When am I going to see the return on this investment?" Many firms go into it and sell you agile training or workshops. While this is all good for education, it’s not going to change you and even if it did, how would you know? Lean Agile Intelligence is a comprehensive measurement platform designed to simplify organizational change and continuous improvement. The goal is to enhance team productivity, boost morale, and positively impact your company culture while providing you with the tools to tell your story along the way.
Embracing tools fosters a culture of continuous improvement. Consultants, dive into the world of tools and motivate your clients to do the same. Make your lives easier—you're worth it!
