A Picture Worth A Thousand Words

How many times have you said, “what a small world”?  For the last three years I have been corresponding with a business colleague in Australia via SKYPE.  At least weekly we have been talking.  Sometimes with the video camera on and sometimes with it off.  As you can image the time change has caused us to have conversations at unsightly hours for one of us.  However, on the rare occasions when we were able to hit it just right we allowed the cameras to be on.

If you have ever used SKYPE then you know that the camera provides a good view of not only you but of the things around you.  We found that we had similar books on our bookshelf as well as  going to the same coaching academy and having our certificates hanging on the wall.  Each of us have them hanging to the sides of our desks.

After three years of conversations and getting to know each other both professionally and personally it was no surprise that I was able to pick her out in a group in a hotel lobby.  I walked right up to her and without introduction, she knew exactly that it was me.

We spent the day talking business without the awkwardness of getting to know each other.  We could have been office buddies for the way we were able to get right down to business.  The other wonderful part of this meeting was the cultural aspect.  I never knew what “I have to spend a penny” meant.  It means using the bathroom.

I am taking my colleague and friend around Hollywood and Beverly Hills today before she continues on the New York.  I can’t wait to share and have been told I have an open invitation to Australia which I know I will be taking her up on in the future.

If you have not brought technology into your company I would highly suggest that you do.  It is not expensive to add a video cam to your computer and SKYPE is free.  If your best client or customer does not have a video cam, why not buy one for them?  The holidays are approaching and what better way to invest in your future business goals than to see your clients face to face.

If You Think Change is Happening Quickly Now… Wait

Listening to the guest speaker address a group of employees at their annual conference  two things that stood out to me.  1)  change is happening faster now than ever before and 2)  change will continue to happen faster and faster in the future.

I recall as recent as 5 years ago when a change in a company was discussed you knew that nothing would happen over night.  You went about your daily tasks until the next month Town Hall Meeting where an update would be given and a new time line for when the change would take place.  It seemed that there was always a wait while someone received word back from someone else.  Or, the proposed equipment change was delayed because of manufacturing or shipping.  With this type of movement you were eased into change.

Change is happening faster and faster and will continue to move at rapid rates.  We are now connected to anyone we want to be, need to be or have to be by technology.  I know for myself, I talk to my son on SKYPE almost daily.  I have a coaching partner in Australia where we interact either with SKYPE of another interface like VYEW where we can share our slide decks, whiteboards or documents for editing.  What would have taken longer via snail mail was quicken by using email and now more so my virtual collaboration media.

For those people who don’t like change or resist change the mere knowledge that change is happening more rapidly can send them into a state of panic or stress.  If you work with people who stress easily over change you may want to take small steps now to help them adapt.  Some things that may help are:

1. have them sign up for one of the social media sites
2. upgrade their cellular phone to the newer smart phones
3. have them step outside their current comfort zone in an area now before change takes place
4. assure them of where their support systems
5. have them change one small routine each week/day.  Perhaps turn on their computer and then get coffee or try a different restaurant for lunch
6. have them take a new way home or to work one day a week

We all know change is inevitable and the way we deal with change has a dramatic impact on how well we will adapt and move forward.