Organizations often miss out on ROI because they struggle with using technology. Not because of lack of availability or training, but because of lack of adoption processes. One of the most effective ways we’ve seen organizations enhance adoption and increase technology usage and ROI is by building a Systems, Automation, and Technology (SAT) Committee. What is a SAT Committee? A SAT Committee is a cross-functional group made up of: Power users (the people who live in and are experts with your...
25 days ago • 1 min read
The last couple of weeks we have talked about pull systems and how to set them up in Microsoft Planner. This week, let’s discuss how to decide what work needs to be done next. When deciding what to work on next as a team, it’s important to assess strategic alignment, business value and return on investment, technical feasibility, resource availability, risk profile, stakeholder support, timeline/urgency, and regulatory and compliance areas. One can do this by considering the following...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Last week, we talked about how using a pull system helped us get more work done. This week, we’re making that idea tangible by showing you how to build a simple Kanban board in Microsoft Planner, a tool you likely already have if you subscribe to Microsoft 365. 1. Open Microsoft Planner Sign in to Microsoft 365 (https://www.office.com). Select the App Launcher (grid or waffle icon in top left) in the top-left corner. Click Planner (it might be under More Apps > All Apps) 2. Create a New Plan...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Do you or your team ever feel like you have too many projects going simultaneously to ever finish any of them? This was a constant struggle for me at one time, until I learned about pull systems, a different way of managing work than the traditional “take orders and start everything” approach. In a pull system, constraints are set for a maximum number of works in progress (WIP), like projects. When one project finishes, a team or person is free to pull another from a backlog and start on it,...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Last week, we explored the key questions leaders should ask before moving forward with a change. Today, we’ll look at the different types of team members you’ll encounter during a change and how each one impacts adoption and momentum. Understanding these dynamics can make the difference between a stalled initiative and a successful transformation. So, let’s dive in. After leading numerous change initiatives across organizations of all sizes, I’ve found that people consistently fall into four...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
The way we work is constantly evolving, through new processes, advancing technology, and new products and services. The organizations that succeed are the ones who manage change effectively to drive positive outcomes. Effective change management is more than a leader announcing a change and expecting everyone to get on board. Before a change takes place, leaders must evaluate the change to ensure it’s got the potential to make a real, positive impact. One practical way to do this is by...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
One of the most important decisions a person, business, organization, team, etc. can make is deciding the problems they solve and then executing on solving them. Your value is determined by the problems you solve. For example, one problem we help organizations solve is adopting Microsoft 365 (M365) and other technology after it is successfully implemented. Adoption is a costly problem because organizations often pay for multiple applications that do the same things as the M365 subscription...
2 months ago • 1 min read
I often get these questions: “What is SharePoint?” “Why do we pay for SharePoint?” “Isn’t it just a place to put files?” SharePoint isn’t just one thing with one purpose. It’s like a garage full of tools. Depending on what you’re trying to accomplish, a garage might be used for: Woodworking Working on cars Storing equipment and materials Building cabinets What you do with a garage is where you find value. SharePoint is similar. It’s more than just a file storage system (although it’s really...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Most people manage their calendar by time. Very few manage it by energy and that’s a missed opportunity. Your calendar more than a tool to tell you want to do next, it’s also a record of meetings and tasks that can be used as a map to determine what fuels you and quietly drains you. That’s where the weekly calendar energy audit comes in. At the end of each week, look back at your calendar and answer one simple question about each item on it: Did this give me energy or take it away? Every...
3 months ago • 1 min read