As we work hard to strive to be our best selves one of the key areas that I am focused on is leveraging my natural transparency, while also adding some polish, so that the red flags don't immediately start waving. I have great experience at pushing that magic button that makes the flag pop up. It doesn't always pop for everyone, but in large audiences having the bell start to ring with just one person can cause noise for the rest. Settling down this noise is also not easy.
This is an interesting challenge in this demanding (and noisy) world of technology and constant learning. We each must continually stay current with all the new business processes, software features, functionalities and most recent versions, but we must also maintain and grow our soft skills.
In terms of Technologies in my CRM world? Consider the huge suite of pieces that can be connected together to meet an incredible number of customer needs!
- Azure (many different blocks)
- Microsoft Dynamics CRM v7.0.0 OnPremise
- Microsoft Dynamics CRM v7.1.0 Online
- Parature
- Microsoft Social Engagement (MSE)
- Microsoft Dynamics Marketing (MDM)
- Microsoft Excel PowerBI
- Microsoft Office 365 (which keeps delighting me with new apps)
- Unified Service Desk (Call Center Extension)
- Windows 10 (oh look! Cool!)
- and this list can certainly be longer (Skype for Business, SharePoint, ...),
but the point is there is so much incredible that it is hard to remember to keep this in perspective when working with your peers. It is also difficult for customers, because so much choice is overwhelming.
As such we have a certain obligation to push each other to be even better than we would be on our own. This is not expecting others to change, but more about encouraging debates, disagreements, and differences of opinion, because this is what raises the bar for all. This is what solves tough problems. The coming together of great minds. It forces each of us to be uncomfortable which then drives questions of our own assumptions and motivates improvements, growth and sometimes change.
We live in a world of constant change, and so I embrace this, and want all to know that you are incredible and that you are unique. I value this! I value your opinions, your offerings of thought and your option to listen.
Mistakes are for learning: I recently rained on one of the young associates parades. He had just developed a new application using SharePoint and I was so sad that he had not used CRM that I voiced my disappointment. I immediately saw that it might not get used. Yes, in a large team forum. Hindsight (not one of my smarter moves) The associate however was appreciative, we had a talk after the call and he encouraged me to keep sharing my opinion and to push him to think, but many of the others on the call were shocked. How could I do such a thing to a young growing associate? Needless to say it is still a thinking point for me. I can learn to delivery differently, but there are also trade offs.
Needless to say my efforts to continue with transparency, but to keep thinking and growing with the messaging and with who the audience is.