Jun
Why Getting To Know Your Computer Is Well Worth The Effort
I am constantly amazed and astounded at how some people in the business world get by with I.T. skills so minimal they can barely switch their computer on without tech support (slight exaggeration I know but not far off).
I was watching someone the other day try and find a file on their computer – my hands itched to snatch the mouse away from them and just do it for them. Didn’t they know you just right-click over the start button (on a PC) and select “Explore” to instantly get your File Explorer window up?
As a business owner and entrepreneur, you’re often caught up wearing so many hats that you simply don’t have the time to struggle through the most basic computer tasks which take you an hour when they should take you a minute.
Want to save yourself hours and hours of time and improve your productivity and ability to GTD (get things done) ten-fold? Then get well acquainted with your computer and learn how to do the basics and then some…things like:
- Creating, deleting and organising folders and files.
- Searching your computer for files using the in-built search functionality in Windows Explorer (PC) or Spotlight (Mac) or by installing and using Google Desktop.
- If you’re using a PC, download and install something like CCleaner so you can keep your PC tidy and running smoothly.
- The basics of MS Office (or equivalent) and the main tips and tricks in each major program (Word, Excel, Powerpoint etc.).
- How to deal with and troubleshoot your own email accounts on whichever program you use to manage them.
- Installing a browser like Firefox or Flock (instead of the default IE or Safari) which gives you so much more functionality and more powerful tools at with just the click of your mouse.
Whilst it may take some time and effort to learn about the above, I promise you that it’s well worth it. And if you need some help learning, our tech coaching is ideal for the job!
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- Pingback by The Secret Weapon of the IT Department « – Tales of Tech – on September 8, 2008 @ 3:03 pm
I agree wholeheartedly with this post and feel like our company is ahead because of how tech savvy many of us on staff are.
One of my friends, a very successful (in the multi hundred million dollar range) real estate developer disagrees strenuously. He believes that the internet muddles the mind and email just makes simple phone call problems take longer and get more complex.
He chooses to read 5 newspapers per day to try and harness macro trends and employs an assistant to handle email correspondence on his behalf.
She’s in charge of filtering through all the emails to ensure he only gets the barest essentials necessary.
Getting to know your computer is definitely a big plus for anyone who works with technology. In other words, basically everyone. It’s also one of those things that doesn’t necessarily require that much effort, and it’s going to be even less of an issue as the younger generation moves into the work force. I spend a couple days working with a new operating system or program and I know a lot about it just because I can’t resist exploring and figuring things out.
My biggest secret for technological literacy is the internet. I don’t just know a lot about my computer, I’ve found that it’s extremely easy to search the internet to find out how to do things that I don’t already know how to do.
@Anne-Marie – There are times when picking up the phone just gets things done so much quicker than persisting with email so I can see what your friend means. However, having watched people struggle to do even the basics on their computer makes me realise just how much time some people waste not knowing. And unfortunately most can’t afford to hire an assistant to do it for them!
@Michael – the internet is my secret weapon too for finding out ‘how to’!
As the individual being referred to here I feel a need to defend myself!! No really it is true Lea that a lot of time can be saved if people learn the basics about PC use. I especially find it interesting that most companies, even large corporates, never actually train their staff to use the basic packages such as excel, powerpoint etc to their full potential which without doubt must impact productivity and quality of outputs. Having said that I also think not everyone likes computers but these days everyone has to use them to get by so you have to have some sympathy for those of us who are not really interested in Technology but find that more and more we have to deal with it in every aspect of our lives :->
Busted!!! LOL!!! And there I thought Louise, that you no longer had time to read my blog ;)
I agree – I’m surprised many companies don’t provide more effective (and cost effective) training on MS office suite programmes – I’m assuming Cape Consulting will do :)
“Not everyone likes computers”…WHAAT?!!? You mean there are people out there who don’t take their Macbooks to bed with them and read them a bedtime story every night?
But yes, I know some people aren’t techy geeks like myself nor enjoy doing things on a computer (my 75 year old stepdad and 85 year old Grandma are prime examples) but see them as a necessity to get things done that they want/need to. And it’s not just computers…it’s ovens, microwaves, cars, TVs, DVDs, stereos.
Excellent post Lea, I wholeheartedly agree and made some observations of my own along similar lines here: http://jonac.wordpress.com/2008/09/08/the-secret-weapon-of-the-it-department/
In a better world, people would have a clue.
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