The Hidden Cost of Figuring it Out Alone
“Efficiency” and “productivity” are important business measures. Computers definitely improve many business functions but only if those using the computers are using them well.
How do you know that your employees are being efficient and smart about how they are using their computer? Are you using your computer well?
How we use computers is (almost) entirely a private matter. It’s very rare to look over the shoulder of computer users and see how they manage. People create their own methods, understandings and procedures. They get used to how they do things and don’t look for better and more efficient methods. They don’t know what they don’t know.
Do you sense employees struggle with any of these? Do you?
- Managing passwords
- File naming and organization
- Formatting in word processing and email
- Setting up and using social media
- Staying on top of email
- Synchronizing across platforms (desktop, laptop, tablet, smartphone)
- Using collaboration tools
- Using a spreadsheet to understand patterns and trends
- Building presentations
This is a sampling of the struggles I’ve witnessed.
How do people learn what they need to know? You might try sending people to an application-specific training such as MS Word, or Outlook classes. The problem is that the focus is only on one application. And everyone is on a different learning curve so that much of the time is simply wasted for the individual learner. You might expect people to ask for help but if they’ve tried that and it hasn’t been successful they stop.
What is better is personal, direct one-to-one coaching.
Hire me. I’ll coach your employees at their desks in person if local or by videoconference. They can show me where they are struggling. I can teach them more productive methods.
Want to know more?