Here's how you can overcome barriers when adopting new technology in the philanthropic sector.

Dip your toes into the water. Usually, the exposure to a promising new technology will overwhelm most people, like diving into the ocean from a cruise ship would seem to a person who has little or no swimming experience or ability. Wading into the shallow end of the pool is calming and refreshing. It inspires you to go a little deeper. Start gradually and pace yourself, and soon you may find you are ready to take a more active approach to learning more.

Mais do que entender as necessidades do público é necessário conectar a tecnologia a favor delas. Hoje podemos utilizar as alternativas que as ferramentas nos oferecem, potencializando as contribuições ao longo da jornada filantrópica.

As in any other organizational objective, it is key to have an accurate analysis of what your current situation is, what are the strenghts and weakneases of your organization in that area, and the opportinities and threats within the context. Having the right picture of your current situation leads to a great percentage of the solution.

If you understand the needs of your audience as well as your own needs you will find that technology can be used to empower and inspire your community.

In deed, the many types of technology need to be thoroughly evaluated so one can understand their maximum benefits. This will lead to making informed choices on the technologies to o keep and avoid wasting time trying out everything.

Dream, plan and deliver. If you have a great idea, consider how to manifest it most effectively. Then, rather than wait for the perfect plan to arrive, get busy with building the pieces you can with the knowledge and tools you have. Then, the challenges will naturally arise, and you smooth out those wrinkles as you recalibrate and ‘course correct!’ Remember, pilots of ships and planes spend most of their time ‘course correcting,’ because the natural elements or conditions are not always the same. Start the journey, keep your eye on the target or your ‘North Star,’ and simply adjust your rudders, sails or wings to the changing conditions to get back on course. Seen this way, you have never failed, you have just ‘drifted off course’!

It is key in your plan integrating new technology to have a clear understanding of the audience your are addressing to, regarding age, education, cultural characteristics, whether is your staff or communication target audiences. It is a key aspect for the plan.

Una básica sugerencia es establecer un plan muy bien definido, con ideas y acciones claras; la estrategia se formula después de un plan concreto no antes ni de forma paralela. Esta estrategia es la clave para llegar a los objetivos trazados mediante un trabajo inspirado, consistente y determinado. Los problemas a encontrarse en el camino serán simple enseñanzas para llegar al éxito de una manera más rotunda.

Thorough research must be carried out to ensure that the technologies stand the test of time and have room for developer updates.

Involve your team according to their strenghts in order to get the most out of them. Never loose sight of your goal or vision. Pick your puzzle pieces carefully with intention according to your mission, be engaged, manifest your goal and show up. The process and journey of building that puzzle piece by piece will be efficient.

Clearly show the benefits of adopting new technology within your organization. It will meake the process easier for everybody involved, thus making adoption friendly.

Fomentar uma cultura interna que envolva as pessoas no processo de utilização de novas tecnologias, pode facilitar a interação e consequentemente, o engajamento. Esse movimento acaba gerando senso de pertencimento, fazendo com que mais pessoas queiram aderir as ações.

Create psychological safety around experimenting with the new technology. For example, with a new grant management database, have a 'test' account where people can practise. Create a culture of 'all questions are good questions', and hold regular supportive events where people can come to resolve their practical issues.

Embed Innovation and Quality Improvement as a regular topic in team meetings. Ideas coming from front line staff who have experienced tech based advances in previous jobs or shared to them from colleagues will gain faster acceptance and enthusiastic participation in changes.

In my experience, leveraging new technologies in philanthropy requires combining a robust media and communication strategy to ensure both the public and internal teams can benefit. First, implement a comprehensive media strategy using social media, press releases, and influencer collaborations to engage the public. Second, enhance internal communication through training sessions, newsletters, and workshops to ensure employees can utilize new technologies effectively. Third, involve stakeholders in the adoption process to build confidence and encourage participation by clearly communicating the benefits and uses. Finally, continuously monitor and adapt your strategies based on feedback to maximize impact.

Lead with empathy and curiosity. Understanding and engaging (really understanding! really engaging!) the concerns team members have will help you craft an appropriate plan that doesn't leave anybody behind.

It’s much easier to get ‘buy in’ before you begin. Spend some time demonstrating the powerful effects of the technology through compelling examples told in story form. Everyone wants to see what happens when it works well (whatever it is) and the stories you tell are often more compelling when you experience some tragedy, setback or difficulty before you ‘found’ the way through to success! Explain the problem, Share what you did to try to solve the problem, Tell them what terrible difficulties arose unexpectedly, and finally show how you pushed through those challenges to emerge victorious. The answer lies in showing them that if an ‘average person’ like you can do it, then they can surely do it too!

Change is constant. Resistance to change communicates a particular fear. If inadequacy in skill, provide opportunities for learning. Listen and communicate to allow everyone feel heard. What are worries? Queries on data privacy. Queries on technology taking over jobs, etc....address all concerns modestly

The key for most effective management decisions is communication and listening. This is especially relevant in this case. Communicating effectively and listening to feedback is of the utmost importance to ensure smooth transitions, adjustments and successful implementation. Listening to internal and external voices will provide more clarity on what is needed and what needs adjustments.

Estabelecer KPIs previamente definidos, com base em dados comparativos, é uma forma de mensurar o impacto incremental que a ferramenta está proporcionando à organização. Desta forma, em ações futuras, será possível tomar decisões de maneira mais assertiva.

Simply watch, learn and course correct. Once people are convinced to try it, most will do their best and all can learn to do better if the data is presented constructively and consistently with encouragement.

Evaluating the impact is of crucial importance to regularly keep track of the efficiency and development of the new technological implementation. This will ensure tight follow up and check ups to stay on the right track or perhaps adjust the path ahead. Open communication is central to assessing the impact.

No one thing is as important as determining to be a life long learner and to do better next time, with never a thought being given, ever, giving up or quitting. Get up, dust yourself off, look for your North Star and go after it, incorporating the things you’ve learned along the way. If you do this consistently, there are not many things you cannot accomplish! Most importantly, enjoy and find energy in the journey, because it is vitally important to have a little fun along the way. That is what keeps your batteries charged!

With new technology and new research always coming out, it is important to be a life-long learner and continuously engaging in workshops / conferences/ webinars, ect. in the field of philanthropy to stay informed of all the tools available to add to your toolkit.