Digital Dexterity

You invested in the platform. You launched the tools. You checked the “digital transformation” box. But something’s still off. Systems don’t talk to each other. Staff rely on workarounds. Member experiences feel… clunky. Sound familiar? The problem might not be your tech stack. It might be your team’s digital dexterity. 

What Is Digital Dexterity? 

Digital dexterity isn’t about coding or mastering AI. It’s your organization’s ability to adapt, adopt, and apply digital tools—across roles, teams, and workflows. 

It’s not just for the IT department. Every staffer—from member services to marketing to education—needs a base level of fluency with the systems and tools your organization runs on. 

According to .orgSource’s .orgSource Digital Trends Survey, internal team readiness is one of the biggest barriers to digital progress—yet most associations overlook it when building strategy. 

How Do You Know If Your Team Lacks Digital Dexterity? 

Here are the warning signs: 

  • Projects get delayed because no one “knows the system” 
  • Staff still download spreadsheets to “work offline” 
  • New platforms go underused—or misused 
  • Training happens once… and never again 
  • No one owns cross-system workflows 

And worst of all? Digital change feels threatening instead of empowering. 

Why It Matters More Than Ever 

You can’t afford to treat digital as someone else’s job. 

  • AI is here 
  • Members expect self-service 
  • Data is the currency of strategy 

If your team can’t confidently navigate your systems—or worse, actively avoids them—you’re not future-ready. Digital dexterity isn’t a luxury. It’s operational survival. 

5 Simple Ways to Build Digital Dexterity in Your Association 

You don’t need to build an internal academy or hire a full-time trainer. 
Start with these low-lift, high-impact strategies. 

✅ 1. Make Digital Competency a Core Job Expectation 

It’s not enough to say, “use the tool.” You have to define what good looks like. 

Try this: 

  • Include digital fluency in every job description 
  • Define platform-specific competencies (e.g., “Can build an email in Informz,” “Can run a report in Salesforce”) 
  • Make it part of performance check-ins 

When digital skills become part of the role—not an extra task—they get prioritized. 

✅ 2. Appoint “Digital Champions” Across Departments 

Not everyone needs to be an expert—but every team should have a go-to person who: 

  • Stays current on tools 
  • Helps troubleshoot 
  • Provides peer training 
  • Acts as a feedback loop to IT or leadership 

Pro tip: Don’t just pick your techiest person. Choose someone curious, empathetic, and trusted by their peers. 

✅ 3. Create a Culture of Microlearning 

Instead of once-a-year training that no one remembers, shift to bite-sized, regular refreshers. 

Ideas include: 

  • “Tool tip of the week” Slack posts 
  • 15-minute lunch & learns 
  • Short Loom videos to demo new features 
  • Scenario-based practice exercises 

Learning sticks when it’s continuous and contextual. 

✅ 4. Incentivize Exploration, Not Just Execution 

Most teams only learn new tools under pressure. That’s a recipe for frustration. 

Build in permission to play: 

  • Block off “learning hours” in calendars 
  • Gamify system usage (e.g., “Try this feature, win a coffee”) 
  • Celebrate small wins publicly (“Shoutout to Sam for building her first automated workflow!”) 

The goal isn’t just usage—it’s confidence. 

✅ 5. Audit, Don’t Assume 

Do you actually know where your team’s digital gaps are? 

Run a digital fluency self-assessment across roles. Ask: 

  • Which platforms do you use weekly? 
  • What tasks feel easy vs. frustrating? 
  • What do you wish you understood better? 

This data helps you target training and design smarter workflows—not guesswork. 

Tech Isn’t the Transformation. People Are. 

Digital success doesn’t start with a product demo. 
It starts with a team that’s empowered, equipped, and excited to use what you already have. 

Digital dexterity won’t show up on a dashboard. 
But it will show up in: 

  • Faster project delivery 
  • Better data 
  • Happier members 
  • Less burnout 

And when your staff can actually use the tools they’re given? That’s when transformation starts to stick. 

📍 Call to Action: 

→ Ready to measure and improve your team’s digital dexterity? 
.orgSource can help you run a customized Digital Fluency Assessment—and build a practical plan to close the gaps. 

Let’s make your people your biggest advantage. 
Contact us to get started. 

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