Hey - it’s Tom.

Welcome to this week’s Tactical Tuesday edition of Ctrl+Shift, where we give you quick, no-bullshit tactics to overcome real business challenges.

Est. time to implement: 10 minutes.

The 'Promote, Not Replace' Script

Your team’s resistance to new tools isn’t about the technology. It’s about fear. Specifically, the fear that the new automation or software is the first step in making their role obsolete.

This 3-part script helps you proactively address that fear in a one-on-one conversation. It reframes the new tool as a promotion—a way to eliminate the robotic parts of their job so they can focus on the high-value, strategic work they were actually hired for.

Note from Tom: I once rolled out a new automation tool for our reporting process, thinking everyone would be thrilled. A week later, I noticed my star analyst, Sarah, was quiet and disengaged. When I finally checked in, I found out she was updating her resume. She assumed we were automating her job away. I had been so focused on the tool's efficiency that I completely neglected the human impact. It was a huge wake-up call that nearly cost me my best employee. That’s why this script is so crucial. It addresses the fear head-on and prevents you from making the same mistake I did.

The 3-Part Script

Part 1: Validate Their Value

Start by acknowledging their expertise and specific contribution, not just their effort. This grounds the conversation in their unique value to the company.

• Example: "Hi Sarah, I wanted to talk about the weekly reporting process. Your analysis in those reports is consistently top-notch and critical for our planning. I know you spend half of Monday just pulling and formatting the data, and frankly, that’s not the best use of your talent."

Part 2: Frame the Enemy (And Introduce the 'Weapon')

Clearly define the enemy as the tedious, robotic task, not the person. Frame the new technology as a weapon you are giving them to defeat that enemy. This is where you explain WIIFY ("What's In It For You?").

• Example: "My goal is to eliminate that manual data-pulling. It’s a low-value task that’s stealing time you could be using for strategic work. We're looking at a tool that can do the robotic part for you. This would free you up to spend more time on what you’re best at—analysing the data, finding the insights that no machine can, and helping us make better decisions."

Part 3: Make Them the Expert

Explicitly state that the goal is to elevate them, not replace them. Then, empower them by asking for their expert input on the process they know best.

• Example: "To be crystal clear, this is about promoting you away from robotic work, not replacing you. You know this process better than anyone. As we look at this tool, I need your help to make sure we do it right. What are your initial thoughts or concerns about automating the data-pulling part of your week?"

That’s it for this edition, see you on Freedom Friday!

Cheers,

Tom