Too Many Tools, Not Enough Time
READ TIME - 4 MINUTES
“Morning, team—can we pull up the usage stats for our digital platforms?” Julia, Director of the eCMO, asked as she strode into the meeting room, coffee in hand and a purposeful glint in her eye.
Navdeep flicked through a dizzying array of dashboards on the meeting room AV screen. “Which one, Jules? Are we talking Teams, ServiceNow, Slack, Monday, Miro, or… ummm, that new dashboard?”
Julia gave a wry smile.
“That’s just it. We’ve got twelve platforms and a ton of ways to ‘collaborate’, but so far, adoption is patchy and the complaints are piling up. People are confused about which tool to use, when, and why. We need a way to help everyone focus on what matters most, without overwhelming them.”
Sophie chimed in, “Honestly, if I have to update my status in one more app, I’ll need a sticky note just to track my sticky notes.”
Julia nodded. “Yeah. Alright, let’s get practical. What if we ran a campaign to spotlight just the top platforms everyone actually needs to know about and use?”
The “Core Four” Campaign: Why Less Is More
If you’re hearing groans about “another new tool” or noticing confusion about which platform to use for what, you’re not alone.
Digital overload is a classic pain point in modern change initiatives. And that confusion is a real blocker for adoption.
Here’s the kicker:
Research in cognitive psychology (think Miller’s Law and Cowan’s “magical number four”) shows that most folks can comfortably hold and manage about four things in their working memory at once.
Any more than that, and things get fuzzy - especially under pressure or when juggling competing priorities.
(Harvard Business Review and McKinsey have both highlighted similar findings: focus improves when choices are limited, and change sticks when it’s clear and simple.)
That’s why a “Core Four” campaign works: it helps cut through the noise, gives people a clear mental map, and makes digital adoption feel actually achievable.
How to Roll Out a “Core Four” Campaign:
1. Audit and identify your Core Four
Work with your IT, digital, and business leads to review all current platforms (Teams, ServiceNow, Slack, Monday, Miro, dashboard, etc.).
Select the four most essential tools for day-to-day work—these will become the “Core Four” for your campaign.
2. Build a simple, visual guide
Create a one-pager or infographic that clearly explains:
What each platform is for
When to use it
Who needs to use it
Key tips or “golden rules” for each
Keep it visual, jargon-free, and easy to share.
3. Launch an integrated comms strategy
Roll out the campaign across all channels: email, digital screens, team meetings, and even physical posters in common areas.
Use stories, examples, and FAQs to bring it to life—show how the Core Four make work easier, not harder.
4. Empower champions and people managers
Equip leaders (especially middle managers!) and digital champions with talking points, cheat sheets, and quick demo videos so they can reinforce the message and answer questions.
5. Measure and celebrate progress
Track adoption and usage stats for your Core Four.
Celebrate milestones (“90% of teams now using Monday for project tracking!”), share quick wins, and keep the campaign fresh with regular nudges and updates.
Pro tip: Invite feedback as you go. Ask staff what’s working, what’s confusing, and what could be improved. The more people feel heard, the more likely they are to get on board.
Why it works:
By narrowing the focus to four essential platforms, you make digital change feel manageable and clear.
It’s not about limiting innovation. It’s about setting everyone up for success in the realities of a noisy, fast-paced environment.
When people know exactly where to go (and what for), they waste less time, reduce frustration, and actually use the tools you’ve invested in.
The Bottom Line
Digital transformation doesn’t have to feel like a juggling act for your stakeholders.
By rolling out a Core Four campaign, you’ll help your people cut through the clutter, boost adoption, and get back to what matters: doing great work, not just clicking between tabs.
That’s it for this week.
Next Tuesday, we’ll dive into practical ways to turn “crickets” into real feedback when you launch new tools.
Don’t miss it!
See you then,
Team EVER
PS: Someone pass this on to you?
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