Most of us know about Windows 10 and Office 365, and rely on them daily.
But I’m here to tell you there’s a lot more going on at Microsoft.
Packed inside of Windows 10, packaged up with other offerings or simply available as standalone products, there’s a ton of business productivity just waiting to be unleashed on your business.
Recently I visited the Microsoft headquarters in Redmond for a tour with its crew of Small Business Ambassadors (I’m one of them). I discovered that Microsoft is innovating all over the place. Here are 10 highly useful Microsoft products and features that if you are not aware of, I suggest you explore:
Snow Days - Working from Home
It's been many years since the Tompkins County roads were closed due to snow. But it did happen this March. Like many businesses, we needed to quickly execute our plan to make sure our people were safe, but still be able to serve clients. Although a bit stressful, we were able to operate through the storm and the road closings reasonably well:
- Most of our deliveries were delayed because our clients who had ordered printer consumables, had regular repair pickups and deliveries, etc. were closed as well. That kept our pickup and delivery people off the roads - a good thing considering the weather.
- Service calls that required on-site vists were also delayed for much the same reasons as deliveries and pickups.
- A few of our clients who were planning on-site upgrades and updates actually kept to their schedules prior to and directly after the road closures. It turned out that our work was actually easier to accomplish because it disrupted fewer people. All it took was engineers with good driving skills and 4WD vehicles.
We Need To Get Serious About Cybersecurity
More than half of small and midsize businesses in the U.S. have suffered a cyber attack in the past year—but despite this frightening reality, very few businesses are making IT security a priority this year. That's a big mistake, because small business owners are at a greater risk than they may think for data security problems and cybercrime.
Your businesses at risk
Businesses are starting to wake up to the risk of cybercrime. In a 2016 survey by the Ponemon Institute, more than half of businesses surveyed believe cyber attacks are becoming more targeted, more sophisticated, and more costly.
Improve Your Work-Life Balance
Many small business owners will tell you the rise of the internet has changed how they work. Newer entrepreneurs may not even be able to imagine moving about their day without email, social media or mobile banking.
But while these tools make it easier to do business in many ways, the pressure of always being “on” can amplify stress for small business owners. Time management can be particularly challenging for entrepreneurs who may be building a business while keeping another job, raising a family or pursuing education, just to name a few examples.
If you’re feeling the pressure, try one or more of these time-management techniques to help you balance work alongside everything else.
The Multigenerational Workforce - Ways to Foster Digital Change
Digital transformation is not all about tools or technology—it’s about people too. Today's workplaces are becoming increasingly multigenerational. Older employees are staying in the workforce longer and mixing with younger colleagues who are just starting their careers. As such, the range of ages in the workplace is naturally expanding.
A recent survey from executive development firm Future Workplace and Beyond, The Career Network, found that 83 percent of respondents have seen millennials managing Gen X and baby boomer workers in their office. However, 45 percent of baby boomers and Gen X respondents said millennials lack managerial experience, which could have a negative impact on a company's culture. More than a third of millennial respondents said managing older generations is challenging.
I became the CEO of a technology company in 2009, when I was 28 years old. I have experienced the challenges of managing four different generations in the workplace, including employees more than twice my age. To say the least, it requires a highly adaptable leadership style. Based on my experience, here are six practices that can help foster multigenerational collaboration and technical agility in any workplace environment.
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