What are 'champions', and how can they help HR to implement Qulture.Rocks more successfully?
What are 'champions', and why do you need them?
When implementing the Qulture.Rocks platform and its practices, having champions can make a significant difference in the success of the process. These champions are the early adopters, enthusiastic employees who play a fundamental role in disseminating the practices and creating a healthy habit within the team. Imagine champions as ambassadors of the practices in the company, true forwards trained by the HR department, capable of scoring beautiful goals.
👉 Having a strong network of champions not only accelerates the implementation process but also increases employee engagement and reduces the burden on the HR department.
In this article, we will explore the importance of champions and how they can drive the success of the Qulture.Rocks implementation, providing valuable insights on how to identify them, empower them, and make the most of their potential.
How to choose the right champions?
Choosing the right champions is a crucial step for the success of the Qulture.Rocks platform implementation. Here are some practical tips for selecting the ideal team of champions:
🟣 Select about 10% of the company: Choose an appropriate percentage of employees to be part of the champion team. This percentage may vary depending on the size of the organization, but it's important to have a significant representation.
🟣 Diversity of areas, roles, and seniority: Ensure that you include employees from different areas, roles, and hierarchical levels. This will provide a comprehensive and representative view of the company, enabling the practices to be disseminated more effectively.
🟣 Influence in the organization: Choose employees who are recognized as influential individuals within the company. They should have popularity, communication skills, and openness to innovation. These champions will be responsible for engaging their colleagues and promoting the adoption of the practices.
🟣 Assess alignment with the initiative: Before selecting champions, consider whether they are aligned with the proposed initiative. For example, in the case of OKRs, it's important to ensure that potential champions do not have resistance due to fear of exposing their performance. Make sure they are willing to support the initiative in a positive manner.
By following these guidelines, you will be selecting the right champions who can drive the implementation of Qulture.Rocks with enthusiasm, influence, and commitment, increasing the chances of success and employee adoption.
The role of champions (and HR) in the process
The implementation of Qulture.Rocks involves the active participation of champions and the Human Resources (HR) department in three main stages: pre-launch, launch, and post-launch.
✅ Pre-launch
Champions play a crucial role as they are the first to learn about the practices to be implemented and have early access to the Platform. It's important that they have the opportunity to clarify any doubts before the go-live, so they can become advanced resources to support other employees.
It is recommended that champions access the tool at least two weeks in advance compared to their colleagues and use it among themselves, promoting the exchange of feedback and familiarizing themselves with the platform.
✅ Launch
During the launch, champions take an active role in disseminating the practices and promoting employee adoption. They should assist their colleagues in activating their accounts on the web and mobile platforms, being familiar with the login process, password recovery, and account information reset. Additionally, it's important for them to be well-versed in the practices (e.g., skilled in providing high-quality feedback) so they can informally train their peers.
A strategy often adopted by our clients is to reward champions with special t-shirts, stickers, and badges, inviting them to lead adoption blitzes during the launch weeks.
🟣👉 In the specific case of feedback implementation, it is beneficial for champions to be the first to use the platform, setting an example by proactively requesting and providing well-crafted feedback. This creates incentives for their colleagues to adopt the tool as well and have access to good examples of feedback and praise.
✅ Post-launch
Champions continue to play a crucial role in the engagement and adoption of the practices even after the launch. They should lead and encourage their colleagues to actively participate, maintaining enthusiasm and reinforcing the importance of the initiative.
The HR department provides support by informing champions about employees who may be lagging behind in tool utilization, enabling them to intervene and assist in engaging those employees.
In summary, champions are key players in the successful implementation of Qulture.Rocks, acting as influencers and promoters of the practices. Alongside the HR department, they play a vital role in every stage of the process, ensuring that employees engage with and adopt the practices effectively and consistently.