Strategy4nine.com can help you. If you want to help someone, the first step is to understand that person. And that requires listening and empathizing.

Traditionally, these terms are used to categorize people based on when they accept new technology. I have found that the terms actually transferrable and can be applied to a person’s habits, which allows me to understand the person or perspective better. There are five (5) stages:

1. Innovators

2. Early Adopters

3. Early Majority

4. Late Majority

5. Laggards

Essentially, Innovators are the first to adopt a new technology, with Early Adopters a close second, then the Early and Late Majority adopting technology in equal amounts and finally the Laggards will adopt. Many hours of research have been done on this topic and many papers have been written explaining the differences of each trait.

I’ve found it helpful to consider a person’s “adoptability” when making a suggestion about a new system or business innovation. For example, if I know a client is going to be standing in line outside a store in the middle of the night to buy the newest phone with the latest bells and whistles, I will approach a topic different than I approach the client who doesn’t want to change anything “because they’ve always done it this way.”

As Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield, once said, “Almost everything worthwhile carries with it some sort of risk, whether it’s starting a new business, whether it’s leaving home, whether it’s getting married, or whether it’s flying into space.” If you know where you lean on this list, you are better able to understand why one choice you made created more positive outcomes than other choices.

I used to be a bit of a Laggard but have found a new comfort zone in being an Early Adopter. Knowing that helps me make better choices and realize in advance where I may have issues implementing the new technology or systems. To be clear, I don’t think any of these traits are good or bad – or that a person should be one over the other, I think knowing this information can be a useful tool in the decision-making process.

If you are stuck implementing a new system or the new system isn’t working as planned, reach out to me; I may be able to help you find a path to success.