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Need Some Advice
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Need Some Advice |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
For five years I've been the only person in our department that was willing to learn about all the new technology we are using in our job (burning CD's, digital cameras, scanning, etc.). I've also been the unofficial 'help desk' for almost everyone on my floor - if something goes wrong, they call me - I've even been called on to change toner in a microfiche reader because no one remembers how to do it. I'm tired of being dragged away from my job to do these things, too. *sigh So - how do I encourage others to learn all this? I will be leaving the job someday and don't want to leave them in the lurch. |
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ma miller Senior Member
since 2000-07-11
Posts 806 |
PDV ... i work in a corporate environment as well and have been in a similar situation ... are you familiar with the term "Mentoring" ... you have to actively enroll people into the idea of greater productivity and efficiencies through knowledge ... when you go to do one of these "side tasks", make sure the person(s) you are doing it for is present, and even ask if they're willing to give it a try ... they've obviously become dependent upon your skills in this regard and figure it will get done quicker by giving you a call ... a nasty cycle to break, but it can be done ... the other alternative is to stop doing these things altogether ... that way management see the need based on the demands of the workforce and may consider hiring an IT support person ... think of it in terms of the guy that always works overtime (hourly waged person, that is), but never accounts for his time on a timesheet ... not only is he cheating himself by not getting the overtime pay he deserves, but he's cheating the company since it skews their sense of the true cost of doing business ... hope this helps and good luck. |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
Thanks for that great advice!! Sometimes it seems easier to do it myself - takes less time too - so I'll keep 'teaching'. |
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Dopey Dope
Moderator
Member Patricius
since 2000-08-30
Posts 11132San Juan, Puerto Rico |
Maybe have a little conference in which you start it off by slapping each and everyone of your co-workers on the forehead......yes, softly PDV we don't want them claiming injuries from this "soft tap". Then continue to explain how imp. it is to comprehend technology in the world today.  I was born myself, raised myself, and will continue to be myself. The world will just have to adjust. I'm in love with my shadow I admire it daily |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
Ah Sharon ... the ultimate dilemma. When you're good at what you do and have a wonderful attitude ... everyone knows it, and keeps coming back to you for more and more. It's a wonderful thing, but your plate can sure pile up fast. I've had to tackle this from a management point of view, and also from my own work angle years ago. You've got a great attitude, and you want to train others, and that's the best place to start. The scariest thing I've found for others is their fear of becoming "dispensible". I've spent the last three years passionately training all my staff on the rewards of training others and becoming "dispensible". I never want any of them to leave mind you, and they know that (I love the group I work with) ... but when vacations roll around, we can finally all now breathe a sigh of relief knowing that certain areas don't come to a complete standstill anymore. I had one situation where a certain position had never been properly documented, and then "poof" 2 weeks notice was given. There was no way we could hire anyone quickly enough to have her train them. I almost had a heart attack. Thankfully, I asked her if she'd mind if I brought in my video camera, and wanted to record her over the next week as I sat with her off and on, reviewing all her tasks as she performed them. We even did a "tour" of her office, reviewing all the file cabinets, everything in folders, taling about it as we taped, where everything was, typical procedures etc. It gave me the opportunity to learn areas of my own business that even I hadn't followed. I took it home and played it back, typing up over 37 pages of helptext from it in total. By the time the new person started, we were confident that we'd covered the majority of tasks, and the new person fit in beautifully. She pulls up the helptext document, performs a search on a word/task, and up pops the words, directly from the words of the person who performed the task previously. It's been invaluable! A few minutes of training and documentation saves weeks of agony for everyone involved. I've already begun to plan to implement the video/tape concept in a few more areas to ensure I have no surprises, it was just so easy to do. Everyone's behind it 100%, and I've noticed that the office morale has increased equally. They all still know that they're the best at what they do, but they like to go on vacation without feeling that they're going to come back to a ton of work just piling up. It's taken me a long time to get there, but I've come to realize that making "myself" dispensible has given me the greatest reward too --- I finally have had a few vacations, and the staff loved taking over and did it beautifully! |
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Acies
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-06-07
Posts 7665Twilight Zone |
I agree with "mentoring" "So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, So long lives this, and this give life to thee." W.S. |
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Sven
since 1999-11-23
Posts 14937East Lansing, MI USA |
I agree with MA on this one deVine. . . I too, have become "irreplaceable" at my job as well. . .and whenever someone has a question or needs something done, I always make sure that they're right there so that they're able to do it the next time. Another thing that I've done, as my predecessor did, is to send out messages beforehand about new things that are happening. Something for them to keep with them should they have a problem. So that, when that problem happens, all that they have to do is refer to their "cheat sheet" to fix the problem themselves. I like to think of it as "Preventative Maintenance"!!! Hope that this helps. . .  -------------------------------------------------------------- To the world, you may only be one person. But to one person, you may be the world. |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
But what if the people in my department HATE computers and technology...??? |
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Dopey Dope
Moderator
Member Patricius
since 2000-08-30
Posts 11132San Juan, Puerto Rico |
Follow the 12 step program on how to BRAINWASH people. I was born myself, raised myself, and will continue to be myself. The world will just have to adjust. I'm in love with my shadow I admire it daily |
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Paula Finn Member Ascendant
since 2000-06-17
Posts 5546missouri |
PDV...I call it cross training...and I dont make it an option...I expect everyone who works on my shift to be able to step into any postition...including mine...so I take at least fifteen minutes a day and teach someone a new position...til they have it down...and I tell them they are worth more to me and the comapny that way...and remind them that when reviews come up if I am able to tell my boss that they are fully trained it makes getting them a raise that much easier....MONEY always talks... |
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Acies
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-06-07
Posts 7665Twilight Zone |
I think you should tell your boss to e-mail the others telling them it's a must  sorry Sharon I know this is serious But I just wanted you to smile  "So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, So long lives this, and this give life to thee." W.S. |
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WhtDove Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-22
Posts 9245Illinois |
Yep cross training is the best thing to do. Anyone in that office should be able to do the work. If they don't like computers and what not, then I guess they shouldn't work there. Because that 'is' the nature of the business they're doing. It should be mandatory. And they should be present to learn whatever it is someone else is doing for them. |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
I just spent the last hour trying to help someone figure out how to work our new printer (Pitney-Bowes). And am VERY frustrated because it's not my job!!!!! LOL So the NICE stops here!!!! (j/k...I'm venting) |
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Sven
since 1999-11-23
Posts 14937East Lansing, MI USA |
quote: To be perfectly honest deVine, if they're not willing to work with, learn, or use computers and technology in their jobs, (which, I'm sure that they need to be able to do their jobs). . . then they need to find new jobs. . . or get lost by the wayside and left behind. They have to see that if they don't learn, if they don't change, they will be left there. . . and someone else will be put in their place. . . it's a little harsh, but sometimes, you have to just lay it out there for people. . . If that doesn't work. . . when they have a problem. . . let them try to figure it out. . . don't let them think that "Oh, I'll just get deVine to fix it. . . ". . . you have to draw the line somewhere. . . ----------------------------------------------------------- To the world, you may only be one person. But to one person, you may be the world. |
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Colin Senior Member
since 1999-06-05
Posts 596Callington, Cornwall, England |
Sharon, what I think you need to do is try.... if they don't want to learn and if the bosses don't want to make them try to learn, then at least you will be able to let your conscience rest easy. It won't be a case of you leaving them in the lurch. Instead, they will be dropping themselves in the *scratching head* (uhmmmm, AHA!!!) unfortunate position (phew!) which you are trying to avoid. Suburbia is where the developer bulldozes out the trees, then names the streets after them. - Bill Vaughan |
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inot2B Member Elite
since 2000-09-18
Posts 2205Arkansas |
It is time to present to your bosses a new division of your company. You offer to be in charge of all new computer and whatever other technologies that come about. Ask for 2 other people to help you run this department. Emphasis to them that this will be your only duties. You will train your help so that if or when something happens to you they will still have qualified help. Now of course you know they will say we can't afford it plus you are to important in your other duties. That's when you spring the trap and explain how much time you lose doing your job because you have to help other employees who didn't take the time to learn updated technologies. Well, it is just a thought. |
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Irie Senior Member
since 1999-12-01
Posts 1493Washington State |
Some would say....just stop doing it for them.... that would make them learn to do it them selves. I say that too, but then again, I'm too much of a softie and would give in..... Or you could start charging them for services, ask your boss for a raise for the extra work you have to do.... ~Sheri "The things that come to those that wait may be the things left by those who got there first" |
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