Blogs

As I attend more virtual events, I have come to the realization that not all organizations and not every individual is meant to do this, or, they need more and better training on how to do it properly. I am flooded weekly with invitations to attend this virtual event or that web cast and to this day I am amazed by how few of these are run smoothly and professionally. In fact I even attended one where the moderator was getting upset at the people on the line who were asking for help in accessing the event as the voice was by phone and separate from the online event so you could converse back and forth but not see what was on screen. It also amazed me that in this situation, the moderator told those who cannot see, just to listen and follow along that way. This is when I dropped out – you see I was one who could not see the online materials.

In my view, using these tools is an amazing way to communicate. The technology has come so far so fast and still evolves. The issue, as is the case with most technology use, is with the human factor. Technology, while it may seem simple to some, is overwhelming to others and the providers of these technical marvels seem to forget that not all humans are equal in their understanding or ability to use the wonderful tools as proficiently as they can, after all no one knows it better than those who created it and no one knows it so little as those who have never seen it before. This means that humans need to be trained on how to properly use those marvelous inventions of today and tomorrow.

I say go for it and use every tool available but do not stumble and fumble through it. If you are going to commit to using something, commit fully and include proper training for all who will be responsible to use it and in these cases, represent your organization. What would you rather have in front of clients and prospects, professionals who are well versed and deliver an award winning presentations preserving your image or a set of folks who are doing their best to cobble something together in hopes of avoiding virtual chaos and the chance they may win the deal? Invest in both technology and the people in order to succeed.

If you are ready to move forward and are finding yourself stuck or unfocused and are not sure where to begin or what to do next, seek professional assistance and/or training to get you started.

What say you? Do you have a story to tell? What are your thoughts on this topic? Do you have a topic of interest you would like discussed in this forum? Let me know.

Bob Larrivee, Director and Industry Advisor – AIIM

Email me: blarrivee@aiim.org   

Follow me on Twitter – BobLarrivee

www.aiim.org/training     

I will be speaking at the following events:

• November 29- December 2, 2011 AIIM ECM Masters in Utrecht, NL
• December 6-9, 2011 AIIM ECM Masters in Silver Spring, MD
• December 13-16, 2011 AIIM BPM Master Prep in Silver spring, MD