Welcome to Cayke! Our new website will be up and running shortly. If you’d like to learn more about us, please fill out the form at the bottom of this page. Thank you!
Welcome to Cayke! Our new website will be up and running shortly. If you’d like to learn more about us, please fill out the form at the bottom of this page. Thank you!
Travis Kern
January 26, 2023
Let’s be honest, the contract furniture industry isn’t always the quickest to change. When the industry around us feels like it’s moving slowly, it can feel like innovation is just a dream — like we feel stuck ourselves. We say “Something has to change!” We have the BEST intentions, but we have no idea where to start. In the middle of that thought we sit down to 96 unread emails and “doing something about it” takes a back seat — because it should! We need to do right by our customers, demonstrate our value, and… Wow, I already lost my train of thought… Which brings me to my next point (clears throat): CHANGE IS HARD.
The majority of us want better processes, better customer experiences, better retention rates — and we are BUSY. How do we take on these overwhelmingly ambiguous endeavors that level-up our businesses? I have the best news: we can take 100% purposeful, game-changing, digital action that levels-up our organizations. All it takes is getting to 30%.
The 30% Rule refers to the familiarity you need in a given topic before you can put it to use in a meaningful way. It was introduced by Tsedal Neeley and Paul Leonardi in their book The Digital Mindset: What It Really Takes to Thrive in the Age of Data, Algorithms, and AI. The idea behind this concept is simple: when it comes to digital technology and its application in our organization, there are many things we may not completely understand, AND THAT’S OKAY! If we can commit to 30% understanding of our new digital endeavors, that baseline will springboard you and your organization into meaningful change.
I’m not suggesting that getting to 30% is easy, rather that it might be a far lower requirement than you previously thought. In turn, I hope we can all see our own 30% rule as an inspiration to take a step in the right direction.
Here are three ways knowing just enough can get you started.
By familiarizing yourself just enough with the digital possibilities that future-proof your brand, it allows you to look at your organization through a completely new lens: one of opportunity. It helps you become familiar with game-changers for your business and gives you the confidence to explore them further.
If you’re like me, you typically want to know the who, what, when, where, why, and how before you take action. However, according to the 30% Rule, you don’t need to know all of that — you just need to know enough to help you take your next step. Grab hold of a thread and follow.
The 30% Rule is a simple, but powerful framework for understanding the specifics of your situation and identifying current gaps in your organization. As a result, it helps you understand enough about yourself or your situation so that you can ask good questions as you embark on your journey.
Asking one great question could lead to understanding where there are gaps in information or resources, who has experience working with similar projects/organizations, or what parts of this challenge fall outside your area of expertise. When combined, these lead you to your next right step.
When you know 30%, you know enough to start framing digital change to your team. The most critical part? Communicating. PERIOD! Rather than leaving things unsaid and feeding into the fears that accompany any change (especially digital), make your team feel a part of the change. Inspire each other with specific opportunities for growth and value creation you believe will result from your new strategy. Communicate effectively with your team, ensuring that you’re all on the same page and working toward a common goal.
The 30% Rule is meant to be both a benchmark for organizational understanding and an inspiration that you’re not as far away from a successful digital strategy as you might think.
Digital transformation is an ongoing process that’s unique to you and your team and it doesn’t have to be a giant scary leap into the unknown. The 30% Rule is a way to help you identify, decide, and take one next right step for your brand.
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” – Lao Tzu
To learn more about how your brand can take one step towards 30%, get in contact with our team.