For IT Professionals - Five Things You Can Do To Be Less Of A Jackass

 

Attention Information Technology Professionals:

 

First things first, you’re probably acting like a jackass without even realizing it.

 

Don’t believe me?  IT is generally considered the least favorite department in an organization. You don’t wind up on that list because you’re NOT acting like a jackass.

So, now that we know you’re actions are, less than favorable…how can you be better? Here are 5 tips:

1. Technobabble.

 

Using a bunch of technobabble will land you on the jackass-list every time. No one cares how smart you are. You talking over someone’s head to prove how smart you are? Jackass! The last time you went to the doctor, did she launch a bunch of medical terminology at you or did she put it in easy-to-understand English? Chances are, she laid it out simply for you. 

 

 

 

 

If you can’t explain something simply? You don’t understand it well enough. So, if you are trying to talk over someone’s head it means you’re either not as smart as you think you are…or you’re a jackass.

2. Be Nice!

I don’t know why this one is so hard for the IT team. But be nice! I get it, users aren’t as smart as you. And they whine when stuff doesn’t work (and they probably broke it in the first place) and you were up way too late rolling out new patches…but does that give you permission to be a jackass? No! Be nice!

3. Put The Laptop Down.

Maybe this is just a pet peeve, but when I’m having a conversation with someone, the last thing I want them doing? Banging away on their laptop. I don’t care if you’re “taking notes” (PS-I call Bull$&!, you aren’t taking notes).

Bring a pen and notepad if you must, but if I’m talking to you? Have the courtesy to look me in the eye.

4. Mr. (or Ms.) Automatic.

Has there ever been a meeting involving something new where an IT person hasn’t automatically said “no?” Ever? IT is like the Department of NO!

User: “Can we do this?”
IT: “NO!”
User: …but you don’t even know what it is!
IT: “NO!”

Instead of the automatic “no,” find ways to say yes. Find ways to help users move their ideas to something that is both feasible (from a tech perspective) and still accomplishes their goals. Automatically saying no? Makes you a jackass.

5. Bloody Respond To Me!

Yes. You’re busy. But guess what? We’re all bloody busy! If I send you an email, I don’t expect an immediate response…but I do expect a response; and not a month later! If I leave a voicemail? Same rules apply! Ignoring a message doesn’t make something go away. I’ll either work around you or escalate to your boss. Does that make me a jackass? No. You left me no choice.

We’ve gotten a bad reputation in IT…and much of it is well-earned. We need to find ways to reduce our contribution time to tactical firefighting and focus more on strategy. We need to pull ourselves out of the weeds and spend more time with our customers (users!) and enabling them to succeed. 

Health/Wellness - What Can You With a Couple of Dumbbells?

When people think of starting an exercise program, they normally stress out about selecting a gym, selecting what exercises to do and most of all consistently going to gym and seeing results.   

We are all busy, so how about I demonstrate a few easy exercises that you can simply do with a couple of dumbbells?    

Chances are, you can find a couple of dumbbells at your local sports store, your basement or at a hotel.  No excuses so let's get started!

First you can start with a nice Vitamin B shot of Awake Energy, then move onto some great exercises for your Shoulders, Arms, Back and Legs.   

For each exercise, do 3 sets of 10 reps and always have control of the weight and with consistent form.  When you are done with your full body workout, end off your program with a healthy TLS Protein Shake!   

Do this three or four days a week and see results!

Here is a detailed description on how to do each exercise, which is the picture diagram and a step-by-step tip how to do each exercise.

Bicep Curls Using Dumbbells:

1. Stand up straight with a dumbbell in each hand at arm's length. Keep your elbows close to your torso and rotate the palms of your hands until they are facing forward. This will be your starting position.
2. Now, keeping the upper arms stationary, exhale and curl the weights while contracting your biceps. Continue to raise the weights until your biceps are fully contracted and the dumbbells are at shoulder level. Hold the contracted position for a brief pause as you squeeze your biceps.
3. Then, inhale and slowly begin to lower the dumbbells back to the starting position.
4. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

Two-Arm Dumbbells Rows:

1. Grab a dumbbell securely in each hand. 
2. Slowly bend forward at your waist so that your chest is leaning forward over your feet. Keep a slight bend in your knees while keeping your feet at about shoulder width apart. 
3. Start with your arms fully extended, allowing the dumbbells to naturally hang down at about mid-shin level. 
4. Hold the dumbbells so that your thumbs point in toward one another and your palms face your body. Next, lift or “row” the dumbbells up to the top and close to your stomach.
5. Slowly return to the starting position and repeat. 
6. Be sure to keep your head up, back straight and your shoulders back throughout this exercise to keep your back secure and stable at all times.

Shoulder Press:

1. 1. Hold a dumbbell in each hand and sit on a bench with back support.Plant your feet firmly on the floor about hip-width apart.
2. 2. Bend your elbows and raise your upper arms to shoulder height so the dumbbells are at ear level.
3. 3. Pull your abdomens in so there is a slight gap between the small of your back and the bench.
4. 4. Place the back of your head against the pad.
5. 5. Push the dumbbells up and in until the ends of the dumbbells touch lightly, directly over your head, and then lower the dumbbells back to ear level.

Chest Fly:

1. Raise the dumbbells up like you're pressing them, but stop and hold just before you lock out. This will be your starting position. 

2. With a slight bend on your elbows in order to prevent stress at the biceps tendon, lower your arms out at both sides in a wide arc until you feel a stretch on your chest.

Leg Squats:

1. Stand up straight while holding a dumbbell on each hand (palms facing the side of your legs).
2. Position your legs using a shoulder width medium stance with the toes slightly pointed out. Keep your head up at all times as looking down will get you off balance and also maintain a straight back. This will be your starting position. 
3. Begin to slowly lower your torso by bending the knees as you maintain a straight posture with the head up. Continue down until your thighs are parallel to the floor. 
4. Begin to raise your torso as you exhale by pushing the floor with the heel of your foot mainly as you straighten the legs again and go back to the starting position.
5. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

So, there you go!   With a couple of dumbbells, you will have no excuses to get in shape this summer season and look great on the beach!!

The Power of Linkedin in 20 Quick Tips

With more than 450 million members, Linkedin (now owned by Microsoft) is the most popular social network for professionals and one of the top social networks overall.

With new social networks sprouting up constantly, Linkedin is the platform that often gets underutilized or put on the back burner.  But the truth is, Linkedin can be extremely powerful, especially when you're aware of all the platform's hidden features that don't get nearly as much attention as they deserve.

Before we jump to the 20 Quick Tips, how about a little background on Linkedin.

Linkedin was launched in 2003 and is currently the third most popular network in terms of unique monthly visitors, right behind Facebook and Twitter.  Linkedin is Facebook with more professional features.  The social network is primarily centered about careers, entrepreneurs and sales professionals.   Linkedin enables users to connect and share content with other professionals, including colleagues as well as potential employers, business partners and new employees.   If you are a business on Linkedin, it can be also a fantastic marketing tool!

So are you ready for some Linkedin tips?

1. Customize your public profile URL - use your name in your public profile so people can find you.

2. Add a Linkedin background photo to your personal profile - this gives your Linkedin profile a little more personality.

3. Create a profile badge for your personal website or blog.

4. Search engine optimize your Linkedin Profile - Add keywords to various sections of your profile such as your headline or in your summary.

5. Add, remove, and rearrange entire sections of your profile - Linkedin enables you to reorder entire sections of your profile in any way you prefer.

6. Take advantage of Saved Searches - Linkedin allows users to save up to ten job searches and three people searches.

7. Quickly convert your Linkedin profile into a resume - Linkedin comes with a Resume Building Tool.

8. Get endorsed for your skills - Enable users to endorse their connections for skills they've listed in the Skills section of their profile.

9. Check your network updates regularly - This is your newsfeed similar to Facebook.

10. Check out who's viewed your Linkedin profile -  Has someone been checking your profile that you might want to connect with?

11. Export Your Connections to a file - Did you know you can export your Linkedin Connections to a CSV file and manage and import to your email contacts?

12. Leverage the Perks of Linkedin Groups -  Linkedin allows you to send up to 15 messages to fellow group members per month..

13. Share Your Linkedin Status updates on Twitter - simply add your Twitter account to Linkedin and sync them.

The following tips are for businesses -

14. Optimize Your Linkedin Company Page - use all features of the Company Page and use key words!

15. Create targeted Linkedin Showcase Pages - use to promote specific products and services to a niche audience.

16. Use Linkedin Pulse to keep track of industry news - this is better than reading a magazine!

17. Use Linkedin to Generate Leads - post content and share links to your blog posts and landing pages and add a "call to action" to generate a great lead.

18. Create your own industry Linkedin Group and Join other relevant Groups - establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry.

19. Recruit new talent via Linkedin Careers - continue to keep your Company Page up to date with new opportunities.

20. Analyze your Linkedin Marketing Performance - use the Analytics tab in Company Pages to see what is working.

There you have it!   There is so much to learn so if you need help, contact AIMC Business Solutions and get a free consultation!

Running An IT Organization Is Like Running A Business

With the changing dynamics of Information Technology today,  IT Professionals need to take a different approach to their work than in the past.  

In the past, if you were in IT, you were that geek with a tool belt that loved spending weekends taking their IBM computer apart and putting it back together.  The IT Geek also had their own "data center" in their garage, complete with a couple of networks, a SQL Server and a couple of Weblogic servers.

In a company setting, the IT group was looked at as a bunch of introverted, cranky people that sat in the basement of their company and considered a business process to be some kernel running on a UNIX server.   Most companies shoved their IT team under the Finance group, since all IT was is a cost to the company with no value and/or revenue to the bottom line.

Something happened to Information Technology around 5-10 years ago that became a commonplace for startups as well as established Fortune 500 companies.    IT departments became service departments, technology solved business problems and IT professionals became cool.   Cloud Computing was the norm, not a buzz work, organizations took ITIL seriously to help streamline business and technology processes.    Servers were now called Services.

I have been in IT for over 25 years now and have adapted to the changing dynamics to my profession.   In addition to my IT career, I have tapped into social media/internet marketing, entrepreneurship and business networking.   I went from IT Geek to a extroverted business professional and have no problem talking to people.   I am not your typical IT professional.

I started looking at my IT team as a "company" that provided technology services to my customers (other departments at my company).  Called it DeSocio Technology Services.  

I mentored my team to take the sales approach to solving technology issues.   A customer makes a request, the technician makes the initial call to acknowledge that they received the request, the technician assesses the issue and implements a solution.   For the next step, the technician would follow-up with the customer and assure that all questions and details are accounted for and then document the outcome of the request.    The team would continue to follow-up with their customers on a regular basis to build a working relationship, understand the business and be more proactive to technology needs.    A customer survey would be forwarded to the requester who would provide honest feedback about the IT Service that was provided.

Sounds like a sales approach, huh?   Well, it is.   The changing dynamic is that IT Professionals are constantly selling their services and knowledge but also have to have the personal approach in supporting their customers.   If they don't, they will be replaced.

Running an IT Organization is Like Running a Business.   I know since I do both.   If your IT group doesn't perform up to expectations, your group will be out of business and/or replaced.  That is a fact. 

So if you are in IT, get out of your basement, put the Dell Server aside, go to a networking event and become an extrovert.  It will take your career to the next level and you will understand why a sales approach is important in today's IT business world.