What used to take forever by hand can be done in seconds with technology. It makes our lives as professionals easier; until they update the system. As we all know, technology is always being tweaked and updated, whether it is your computer’s operating system or an internal program at your company. They’re helpful and important of course, but they can also present challenges for us. Not understanding or being able to leverage new technology equates to lost time and productivity. To maintain your competitive edge in the marketplace and at your job, it’s critical to be able to keep up with the changes, master the updates and stay ahead of the curve. Here’s how:
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Keep an open mind. Don’t be afraid of new technology. View this as an opportunity to learn something new. When we are used to doing something a certain way and have a system going at work, it can be hard to have to learn a new way of doing things. Having to adjust to a new program at work can even seem overwhelming. Instead of letting it frustrate you or holding on too long to old ways, take the initiative in being willing to try it. Avoid focusing on only negative reviews or opinions about new software or updates. While you want to be aware of any disadvantages an update or new program could present, don’t let those shape your opinion before you have a chance to try it. Create a plan to learn it step by step, allowing yourself time to adjust to and learn each piece as necessary. Decide on a goal and time frame to learn the new system so you have something to work toward and a strategy to tackle it. This will help it seem less overwhelming.
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Watch or follow the tutorial. This is an easy step, but many of us overlook the tutorials. We simply hit the X button when the built-in tutorial system that comes with an update starts. Many of us don’t take the time to go through it because we just want to get on with our day. This is counterproductive. It is important to make the time to go through the tutorial to ensure you understand all the features of your program. This will give you a solid foundation to getting familiar with the new program or update quickly. Then to further brush up on your skills, look up videos or articles online on how to make the most out of the technology in your department. If you need additional assistance or if you learn better by watching a video or reading a manual, find ways to educate yourself based on your learning style. Try Lynda.com or YouTube for more in-depth tutorials and training videos. Once you have figured out how the updates work, it’s time to test what you have learned. As part of your plan, give yourself time to play around inside the system — a certain number of days or weeks — before you expect to be fully comfortable.
Use the new technology. All of your research means that you now know how the technology works in theory, so take some time to use it on a test project. Get comfortable with all of the new features and then use it for a small or simple task. This gives you an opportunity to impress your superiors when you start using the new technology as soon as possible. Provide them with feedback about the things you like and potential issues it could present for your team or department. Ask others on your team what they think of the system and any pitfalls or issues they have encountered. Find out from co-workers what they like about it as well as features you didn’t know about or may have overlooked. Don’t stay in a vacuum. Ask for help and reach out to others to find out how they are doing, as well.
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Share what you have learned. Share what you know with your teammates. This is a great opportunity to show your leadership skills by helping your co-workers master the program. Offer to show them a few tricks if they have a few minutes. Share what you now know with your boss and teammates. They will appreciate the time you’ve taken to share with them. You’ll come across as a team player, but by doing this you will be showcasing your new skills and will be seen as a leader. You can also use this as an opportunity to strengthen your brand. Once you have researched and tested the program or update, share what you have learned with your professional network. Write an article on LinkedIn and let others benefit from your experience.
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Stay Ahead of the Curve: Quickly Mastering New Technology at Work originally appeared on usnews.com
