Why Leaders Need to Involve Their Teams in Choosing New Technology: A Pickleball Paddle Lesson

Picture this: You’re gearing up for a weekend of pickleball. You’ve heard all the buzz about this new paddle that’s supposed to be the best on the market. A friend, who’s an avid player, insists, “This paddle is amazing! It’s the best you’ll ever use!” Trusting their advice, you decide to give it a try.

But once you’re on the court, something doesn’t feel right. The paddle is heavier than you expected, the grip doesn’t suit your hand, and instead of enhancing your game, it’s throwing you off. Suddenly, what was supposed to be a fun and competitive game turns into a frustrating experience.

Now, imagine you’re a leader choosing new technology for your team. Without consulting them, you pick the “best” solution based on reviews, recommendations, or your own experience. But just like that pickleball paddle, what’s best for one person isn’t necessarily best for another. And if you’re not careful, you could end up with a team that’s just as frustrated as you were on that pickleball court.

Why “One Size Fits All” Doesn’t Work

Choosing the right pickleball paddle isn’t just about picking the one with the best reviews or the most features. It’s about finding the right fit for the player—their skill level, playing style, and comfort. The same principle applies to choosing technology for your team.

When you, as a leader, make decisions about technology without involving the people who will be using it, you risk selecting something that doesn’t fit their needs. Just as with the paddle, the technology might be too complex, too simplistic, or just plain wrong for the job at hand. This can lead to frustration, decreased productivity, and a lack of enthusiasm for the new tool.

The Impact of Excluding Your Team

Think back to that pickleball paddle. When it didn’t work for you, how did it affect your game? You were likely distracted, struggling, and not performing at your best. Now, translate that experience to your team. If they’re handed technology that doesn’t fit their needs or preferences, their performance will suffer, too. Worse, they might resist using it altogether, causing delays and inefficiencies in your operations.

Moreover, when team members aren’t involved in the decision-making process, they feel like their expertise and opinions don’t matter. This can lead to a lack of ownership and commitment to making the new technology work. After all, if they didn’t have a say in the decision, why should they care about the outcome?

How Leaders Can Avoid the Pickleball Paddle Pitfall

As a leader, it’s your responsibility to ensure that the tools you choose for your team actually help them do their jobs better. Here’s how you can involve them in the process:

Ask for Feedback Early On: Before you even start looking at options, talk to your team. Find out what challenges they’re facing with current technology and what features they need in a new tool. Just as you’d ask players what they want in a paddle, get your team’s input on what they need in their technology.

Run a Pilot Program: Instead of making a decision based on your own experience or external recommendations, let your team test out a few different options. This is like trying out different paddles before settling on the one that feels best. A pilot program gives your team the chance to see what works in practice, not just in theory.

Create a Decision-Making Team: Involve representatives from different departments and levels in the evaluation process. This ensures that the technology you choose will work well across the board, not just for a select few. Think of it as gathering feedback from a diverse group of pickleball players with different playing styles and preferences.

The Bottom Line

Choosing the right technology for your team is a lot like picking the right pickleball paddle: it needs to be a good fit for the people who are actually going to use it. As a leader, your role is to guide the decision-making process, not to make the decision on your own. By involving your team, you’ll ensure that the technology you choose enhances their performance, rather than hindering it.

So, next time you’re faced with a technology decision, remember the pickleball paddle. Don’t assume that what’s best for one person is best for everyone. Take the time to involve your team, and you’ll find that the final choice is one that everyone can get behind.

Because just like in pickleball, the right paddle—or in this case, the right technology—can make all the difference in your game.