As a CTO/CIO, have you ever had this reaction? "Stupid users. If only they would 'get it' already!" Bad news: it's never going to happen.

Users will always push back "irrationally" on any new tech initiative. It's up to you to show them the light.

Fortunately--or unfortunately, depending on how long you've been a CTO/CIO--you don't need a cattle prod to get users on your side.  You can use the following 17 tips to turn those "stupid users" into your evangelists.

1. Solve their problems.

Solve problems that are important to users, not problems that are important to IT.  Users don't care about making IT's job easier.  They only care about making their jobs easier.

2. Have a 15 second "stump speech".

If your initiative is like a presidential candidate, then this 15 second message is your stump speech.  You may have to repeat it a thousand times before you "win" (ie., get overwhelming support for your initiative).

Don't list features or try to teach them how to get started. In 15 seconds you don't have time to say anything except how your initiative will benefit the user.

Make sure everyone on the launch team has the stump speech down pat.

3. Minimize the disruption to the status quo.

No one likes to change their routines because of external forces.  Users' lives are already overflowing with stuff they need to keep track of, so try to squeeze yourself in there with as little ruckus as possible.

4. Make it really, really (really) easy for users.

While it's fun for you and your IT team to play with interesting new technology, normal users won't be happy with yet another thing they have to learn unless it's really worth it.  While you're pushing the benefits in your stump speech, you should also be making the new technology as easy as possible on the users.  Otherwise, you will encounter lots of resistance (or worse, apathy).

Having a great user interface and useful documentation are two ways to make it easy for users.

5. Use stats.

Numbers sell. 

Have answers to questions like... How much time per employee will the new technology save?  How many more units will the sales team be able to move if they had this new technology?  How much money do you save per transaction under the new system?

A single hard number can be more effective than a thousand words.

6. Showcase other companies that are already doing it.

Are your competitors or other big players (either within or outside your industry) already doing what you want your company to do?  Use that to convince the management team that you need to be doing the same.  Few things turn a CEO around faster than showing them something competitors are doing that your company isn't. 

7. Do a limited beta with key influencers.

Invite key influencers to preview the beta.  Even if they're not 100% convinced that your solution is the way to go, just by including them early in the process (and listening to them), they will feel respected and you will win influential evangelists.