drive - Blogs - DPG Community2024-03-28T12:19:56Zhttps://community.dpgplc.co.uk/blog/feed/tag/drivePeople Powerhttps://community.dpgplc.co.uk/blog/people-power2013-04-09T08:00:00.000Z2013-04-09T08:00:00.000ZVisda Scotthttps://community.dpgplc.co.uk/members/VisdaScott<div><p dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" class="font-size-3"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1357238?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1357238?profile=original" class="align-left" height="107" width="137"></a>In my first post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://community.dpgplc.co.uk/profiles/blogs/on-the-road-to-becoming-a-google-guru" target="_self">"On the road to becoming a Google Guru"</a> I described the journey I’d been on that led me to become a Google Technology Advocate. I also detailed experiences from my previous role that allowed me to ‘see the light’ in terms of working smarter and more collaboratively. Every day continues to be an exciting adventure where I can find another gadget, application or piece of information that helps me transform and evolve the way I work with my colleagues.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" class="font-size-3">After the initial implementation and getting the technology in and working, we are now planning the second stage of the project and taking the applications into new areas of the business. The big question we are asking now is ‘How can we demonstrate value and positively change the way our employees work?’</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" class="font-size-3">A key part of my role and something that is much more important than I had previously expected is managing key stakeholders and their expectations. Perhaps ‘manage’ is the wrong word as I reflect on a recent encounter with one of these stakeholders. I was passed by an important and influential PA (a KEY stakeholder!) only last week and seized the opportunity to start a conversation with every intention of sharing the new found love I have for Google. Instead of hearing a similar opinion and excitement about using the tools, instead I found myself on the receiving end of a rather negative appraisal that went something like ‘we aren’t getting that, I’ve heard its X@&*!’</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" class="font-size-3"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1357258?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1357258?profile=original" class="align-right" width="224"></a>Oh no! This is not what I wanted to hear! I was on the back foot a little but knew I needed to respond (and not react) as my <br> heart was sinking that a key stakeholder was saying such negative things about the very tools I was championing. So calmly I asked why this was the case to find out the reasons behind this apparent smear campaign. It soon became apparent that there had been some negative feedback passed around by someone who shall remain nameless but needless to say had sufficient seniority to be listened to. The nameless one had been a reluctant early adopter who in hindsight had not been given enough care (they would feature as a ‘Risk’ on any stakeholder matrix). Simple put the only reason why they felt this way about Google is because their cheese had been moved and they didn’t naturally embrace change. So was I railroaded before I’d started? What could I do? I could sing the praises of Google applications in the vein hope of making them sound great but that didn’t seem enough…… </span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" class="font-size-3">So I asked for 30 minutes of her time to demonstrate the features and benefits of the Google environment.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" class="font-size-3"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1357284?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1357284?profile=original" class="align-left" width="281"></a>As I planned for the session I knew I had to answer the WIIFM question and focus on bringing to life the real value this change would bring. During the session I focused on her role and how the tools would save her time, remove duplication and change the way she would communicate with her colleagues. As the session progressed I could see the body language change and I could hear the tone of the voice soften as they moved from sceptic to advocate. Following a rather excitable invite, another PA joined the demonstration and the whirlwind tour was then accompanied with a chorus of ooo’s and ahh’s. This was better than I expected, they were seeing the potential value and how these tools could be applied to their roles and the improvement they would bring.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" class="font-size-3">I walked away from the session leaving two Google converts, eager to experience this new way of working. I felt confident that the initial negativity and resistance had been turned around and I had two more Google advocates spreading the love. I also reflected on how little was needed in the first place to harbour a bad impression and how negative reactions and rumours can spread and influence people.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" class="font-size-3">It reminded me of a quote I heard once and remembered ever since. </span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" class="font-size-3"><em><strong>‘Technology enables relationships miles apart but only an inch deep’.</strong></em> </span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" class="font-size-3"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1357304?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1357304?profile=original" class="align-left" width="225"></a>No matter what I am trying to achieve in advocating and championing new technology the power of the personal touch is key to success or failure. All my enthusiasm is worthless if I don’t involve the very people I’m looking to help and influence their thinking. I’m positive raising awareness and answering the WIIFM for those involved in this brave new way of working will mean they become advocates themselves; after all it’s only through people and not technology that real change will take place.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" class="font-size-3">And so the journey continues and I’ve already booked my demo session with a certain you know who….</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="font-size-3">When have you ever received negative feedback on something you’re trying to change?</span></em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="font-size-3">How did you address it?</span></em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="font-size-3">What top tips have you got to positively influence the people you work with?</span></em></p></div>On the road to becoming a Google Guruhttps://community.dpgplc.co.uk/blog/on-the-road-to-becoming-a-google-guru2013-02-22T10:30:00.000Z2013-02-22T10:30:00.000ZVisda Scotthttps://community.dpgplc.co.uk/members/VisdaScott<div><p><b id="internal-source-marker_0.9172103258315474"> </b><b id="internal-source-marker_0.9172103258315474"> <span class="font-size-3"><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1357316?profile=original"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1357316?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="250"></a></span></b><span class="font-size-2">I’m currently on secondment as part of the Change Management team at United Biscuits. My job title is Google Technologies Advocate and I am currently part of a team rolling out Google Applications across our business. It feels a long way from who I have been for the past six years as the PA for the Sales Director at the same company.</span> <br> <br> <strong><span class="font-size-2">So what brought about this change?</span></strong></p>
<p><span class="font-size-2" style="font-size: 13px;">About a year ago the Information Services team presented a taster of Google Applications to the PA community, the applications looked modern, intuitive and user friendly! By the end of the session I was hooked and I knew I wanted to play a part. Google offered something so different to the ways we were currently working yet made complete sense. So six months ago I started my dream job and whilst you might be wondering why this was my dream job I think my experiences as a PA have provided a unique insight in to how Google applications can help us work smarter. Let me explain:</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-2"><span style="font-size: 13px;">One of my pet hates used to be managing the life cycle of a customer presentation. I found it hugely frustrating that only one person was able to be in a document at one time and it was part of my role to monitor who was updating it, to track when they had finished, checking if it was right AND if it flowed correctly. I then had the privilege of letting the next person know they could do their bit. As you can imagine it was a laborious task and not the best use of time and <a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1357357?profile=original"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1357357?profile=RESIZE_320x320" height="113" width="250"></a>resource for all parties involved. However Google Docs changes this by allowing up to 50 people in a document at one time! The link to any spreadsheet, document or presentation can be shared amongst the people who are going to work on it and they access it through the cloud and can make their changes at the same time. This means there is one version of the truth and a complete shift from document tracking and monitoring to open and r</span>eal time collaboration<span style="font-size: 13px;">.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-2">My other pet hate was the lack of internal storage space and the incessant demands to keep our inboxes clear. Using Google Mail has changed this completely as there is never the need to delete anything as we now get 250 times more storage than before! An excellent feature is the powerful search engine. You can search your emails like you would search the web eliminating the requirement of carefully filing everything away. These two things mean I have not ‘lost’ an email in over 6 months. </span><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1357377?profile=original"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1357377?profile=RESIZE_180x180" height="110" width="150"></a><br> <br> <span class="font-size-2">So these are two benefits from a PA’s perspective (my old world) that made the implementation of Google Applications so appealing and made we want to be involved. Take these benefits across a whole organisation and not only does it improve efficiency but it opens the door to completely new way of working. This is where my role comes in as the focus is less about the technology and more around managing change.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-2" style="font-size: 13px;">My role is to be an early adopter and to help build momentum; it’s not a hard job in some respects as I rave about it all the time (this bit comes naturally) but as we know people do not always embrace change. 95% of what we do is habit; we like the way things are now because that is how we have always done it but if you always do what you’ve always done you will always get what you’ve always got. How can organisations progress and innovate with this attitude and culture?</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-2" style="font-size: 13px;">This isn’t about implementing a few new systems and tools this is about transforming our business and the way we work. It’s a very exciting time and I’m so pleased to be playing a key role. The journey has begun, stay tuned for more on how we get on.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-2">Visda</span></p></div>