How to save time and frustration with Microsoft Word tables
If you’ve ever inserted a table only to find you waste ages trying to resize the column widths, get the exact size you need or get the headings onto the next page? It can be so frustrating right? When I present at a conference or internal workshop, when I show people how easy it can be to work with tables they get so excited and so do I! Take a look at how easy it is to do when you know how! Sometimes it is simple things that can make all working with programs such as Microsoft Word easier. If …
How to automatically insert text in multiple parts of a Word document
As a corporate workplace trainer, I am often asked how to insert the same text in multiple parts of a document. So often we create a document inserting a piece of text, only to find we have to type it in again somewhere else. Wouldn’t it be so much easier if you typed it in in ONE place and it automatically populated elsewhere??? Watch this video to see how. Like this tip? Take a look at my short course on How to Create Professional Documents in Microsoft Word. Click here for more information. …
How to “Flip” or Transpose Data in Microsoft Excel
Have you ever typed data into an Excel worksheet only to realise that rather than going across the sheet you should have gone down or vica versa? It’s easy to do, we are under so much time pressure to get things done. Rather than have to retype your data, Excel has a feature that enables you to quickly and easily flip or transpose your data to save you having to retype it! Watch this video to see how easy it is! If you found this tip useful why not subscribe to my YouTube channel by clicking the subscribe button below. …
Dependency Trap!
When looking for information most people want an easy fix or quick answer so they can move on with what’s next on their to-do list for the day. If you have ever been out of the office for a day sick or on leave, you may have returned to emails from colleagues asking questions. As you scroll up the list of emails, it is possible you may find an email back from them to say they found the answer they needed. For many if you can’t find the answers immediately, the approach has become, do one of three things: Physically …
Make it Simple & Easy
Starting a new role there is generally some sort of induction. A number of years ago as a contract trainer I worked with a global consultancy firm training graduates starting with the business and experienced new hires in the organization’s use of email and database management with Lotus Notes. Graduates were taken through a full day program and experienced new hires a half day. The investment of both money and time was made in ensuring these new staff members had a strong understanding of how the infrastructure was used in the organization. These days, when a new employee starts, they …
The grass isn’t greener on the other side.
A few years ago, I was lucky enough to be able to see Jerry Seinfeld perform a live set in a small theatre in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, New York City. He had so many wonderful stories, insights and anecdotes. Whilst I laughed loud at the time, and was blown away by his ability to observe and craft a story, I struggle to remember more than a couple of stories he mentioned. Cognitive Psychologist George A. Miller created what is known as Miller’s Law. Miller’s Law is commonly understood to mean that in our short term memory, on …
How are you viewing technology?
A recent insights podcast from McKinsey (In Conversation: The CEO’s new technology agenda) highlights the change in how organizations are or should be viewing IT right now. Technology enabled organizations to quickly shift gears as staff were sent home to work. A spotlight was shined on the adequacy, or inadequacy, of the business capability during this time. For some clients there was a mad scramble for funding to purchase laptops to enable desktop bound staff to work from home. For others it was a much easier transition, staff were already mobile with laptops or multipurpose devices such as Surface Pro’s. …
Technology Skill Gaps
In the past 12-15 months there has been massive change in how organizations work with and interact with technology. For many organizations it has bought to the fore the importance of building capability and closing skill gaps. A recent McKinsey survey reported organizations increased skill building during the pandemic. The need for basic digital skills was 16 points higher than McKinsey’s 2019 survey. Some industries might be viewed as more “advanced” in how they use technology, but the generic “level” is just that, generic and subjective. When I present Excel programs (by far my most in-demand virtual and in-person topic …
You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know!
When I present, I tell audiences “You don’t know what you don’t know!” It’s one of my favourite things to say because it genuinely taps into technology’s true intent and purpose. I love how it creates “light bulb” moments when, after a presentation someone shares what they learnt and tells me they didn’t realise they don’t know what they don’t know. Our knowledge is limited to our experiences and is different to someone else’s. When you close yourself off to learning you miss the opportunity to grow and be challenged. To me, “You don’t know what you don’t know” is …
No communication IS communication.
My pet peeve is people, or organizations who say they are going to do something and then don’t deliver on the promise. Whilst ideally it would be great to have everyone deliver on their promise, there are times when it just doesn’t happen for whatever reason. When that happens, what I really want is communication, even if it isn’t the news I want to hear. I really don’t care if you aren’t going to meet a deadline we agreed on as much as I want to receive communication that the deadline isn’t going to be met and what is being …
