Why do we get complacent? Why do we let things, like bad work processes, continue on “as is,” even if our “as is” stinks (and we know it)? Why do we enable our problems by compensating in other ways, at our own expense? Because climbing out of our comfort zone takes work, is uncertain and potentially risky. Yes, yes and yes. (Sorry, it is.)

So for those of you brave enough to say “what the hey, I’m going for it anyway,” here are four steps that can help you get the right information and confidence to build a platform for change, or at least a good argument for the consideration of change, within your team:

Step 1: Identify your problem spots...the roadblocks, the inconsistencies, the unorganized processes...all those things that keep you from producing the end product that you want, in the timeframe and budget that you need to work within. Once you know where your problems lie, you can begin the process of putting a name to the solution(s) that will fix them.  

Step 2: Google your problems using “normal people” words like, eliminate rounds of confusing comments. It’s actually better NOT to try to use fancy technical terms because, chances are, many other people have Googled the same way you are for the same sorts of problems and, chances are, they also didn’t know what they were looking for at the time. You might even notice that Google finishes your query for you as you type it into the search area. That means you are hot on the trail!!

Step 3: Research what comes up. Stay neutral...resist the urge to pick a solution at this point. Instead, do your homework and compare a few ebooks, white papers, slideshares, whatever you need to educate yourself so you can make a good comparison between a few viable contenders.

Step 4: Choose two or three solutions and do a deep dive...ask for free demos...why not, they’re FREE! Soon enough, the right choice will become very apparent and you will be ready to venture forth out of your comfort zone knowledgeable and prepared.

And for all your hard work, you’ll undoubtedly Achieve recognition as a thought leader and positive change maker in your company!

The holiday season is here and with it begins the cheerful trickling in of holiday cards. You might already have a pile forming on your entryway table.

 They’re a little like presents, you might say. Open them and inside is a photo of family and friends, or friends’ kids (my how they’ve grown!), who you haven’t seen in the longest of times. Or at the very least there’s a warm greeting with an update on “things.”

Yes, good old-fashioned paper holiday cards are perfect. But have you ever considered sending them online instead? You might have, but you didn’t ever actually do it because of a plethora of challenges we can all relate to:

 -Digital is impersonal, even if you slug in their names and your signature in a script-like font,
-People generally love the traditional acts of opening the mailbox, finding a card, and tearing open the envelope
-You can display paper cards as part of your holiday décor and look at them all season long
-None of your great aunts or grandmas have computers, and they keep great records of who they do and don’t get cards from

So maybe it’s easier to just send paper cards. Fair enough. 

Now (seemingly unrelated, but you’ll see how they are shortly), when you think of your approval process at work, you think of paper too, right? Have you ever considered moving it all online instead? You might have, but you didn’t ever actually do it because of a plethora of challenges we can all relate to:

-Digital, you are told, is impersonal because hand writing comments in red ink makes people feel like everyone’s actually “touched” the project (kumbaya)
-People generally feel safe with the traditional act of moving stacks of paper from desk to desk (what if there’s a computer glitch?!)
-You can’t get anyone to understand that all season long, you’re spending more on reams of paper than you would on this one solution
-None of the higher-ups do well with change, and this would jingle bell rock their worlds in a very bad way (and don’t think they’re not keeping record of that for review time)

So maybe it’s easier to just leave things the way they are. Sure is. But then it’ll be another year of miscommunications, blown budgets and deadlines…and we both know that’s not really what you want.

TO SAY a digital proofing and approval process is more streamlined, efficient and eliminates multiple rounds of back and forth IS EASY. To get everyone on board with this change takes more than a little holiday magic.

Look. You’ve done your research. You know there are better options out there. With the New Year swiftly approaching, now is the time to make the switch. Start clean and fresh…and paper free!

To make everyone happy, you can even send a paper card to make the announcement.

MAKE A RESOLUTION TO DITCH YOUR PAPER APPROVAL PROCESS!