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HDP 2006 BOARD

Ivy Meadors
Host and Producer
High Tech High Touch Solutions

Lisa Prendergast
VP, Conference Manager
High Tech High Touch Solutions

Mary Lou Blakely
Key Contributor
Starbucks

Greg Charles
Key Contributor
CA

Daryl Covey
Operations
Nexrad

Ernie Hayden
Key Contributor
Port of Seattle

Judy Hogan
Key Contributor
FAA

Donna Holt
Registration
Help Desk Xlence

JJ Lauderbaugh
Key Contributor
Lauderbaugh & Assoc.

Rick Nichols
Key Contributor
Western Washington University

Bill Price
Key Contributor
Driva Solutions

Seanna Sams
Audio Visual
Dept. of Social and Health Services

Dave Stockwell
Audio Visual
REI

Brad Worthley
Key Contributor
Brad Worthley Intl.

 

our motto: "whatever it takes!"

 

eSHARINGS - AUGUST 2006

Insights, hints, tips, and resources for service and support professionals, given in the spirit of sharing information in a quick-read, content-rich newsletter.

In this Issue:

-- Sharing - Create a positive work environment and have a sense of humor with it

-- Resources - MOF - ITIL, and Why Top Performers Use Coaches

-- Subscription Information

 

"Get a Reality Check from BenchMarkPortal.com - see how below."

 

Save the Date:  The 6th Annual Government Customer Support Conference and Expo will be held in Alexandria, Virginia, May 7-10, 2007.


"HDP 2006 is Featuring 5 Incredible and Unforgettable Keynotes"

 

June Gunter - Leadership and Horses; If you are looking for a revolutionary approach to developing leadership, here it is! These experiential programs focus on developing
 "Who You Are" as a leader.

"Take a Step Beyond...." Mike Rayburn, "The World's Funniest Guitar Virtuoso"

Developing Young Leaders - Keynote Panel of Generation Y Individuals

Brad Worthley - Outstanding Leadership in a Service Culture

And saving our favorite industry speaker for the closing, the one and only Malcolm Fry wraps-up the week with one of his memorable keynotes.

WWW.HELPDESKCONFERENCE.COM


SHARING (top)


Dear Friends and Colleagues,

In the previous issue of eSharings I listed a variety of links to fun things including video clips, cartoons, calls to the tech line and other entertaining things characteristic to our industry. 

It became immediately obvious that  our industry is hungry for - HUMOR.  Over 47% of the sites visited from our recent issue were to the entertainment and fun links listed.  Some people were visiting the links over and over.  The message: people want more fun in the workplace.

We know how to count calls, we understand we are supposed to capture data from our customer conversations, we know that quality is crucial, and we know we must be motivated to be as productive possible. The day is almost over, and you've just hung up from that one last irritable caller.  After a tough day, the ability to walk out the door feeling high on life with a big smile on your face can sometimes be a challenge.

Here are some more fun things you can do at work so you can go out the door with a smile on your face and be fully present in your personal life.

If you missed last week's issue visit our website and go to the newsletters page.

Top 4 things you can do today to have fun at work and create a positive atmosphere.

1. Remote control cars.  Drive a remote control car around the office and put small bags of candy or gum in it to be delivered to each person.  Use candies and gums that deliver a special message.  Sunny Kobe-Cook, a motivational speaker, taught us this one; "You did an 'EXTRA' good job with that last caller."  Guess what sort of gum came bouncing along to this person in the car?  Or the person that was "AMAZING" got the candy of the same name.  You get the idea.

 It gets extra funny if you have a low end remote control car because they don't exactly go where you want every time.  Oops, my bag of chocolates fell off the car - oh no, that's the Senior Director coming.  Quick look away and act casual. Ooooh, it's stuck to the bottom of his shoe. Oh my, that was the Milkway bar.

2. Add Cubicle Doormats. This one might cross the line of strange humor. There are really cool doormats for outside your house with fun sayings.  You have your traditional "welcome" mats.  But me, the non-traditionalist, well mine says "leave".  I love it. It makes me laugh every time I see it.  Be honest don't you sometimes wish someone would "leave".  So why not have a doormat at the entry to your cubicle that puts a smile on your face when you get to work and when you leave.  Maybe "leave" isn't quite appropriate, but there are other great options.

3. Make Mobiles and Mirrors with CDs. You can use the CDs you get from AOL, EarthLink, and others when you are finished with them to make hanging mobiles.  They are excellent for late night target practice too.  There are patterns on how to design and decorate CDs now.  Put a little life into your old CDs. 

You can also make neat wall designs and mirrors using the backside of the CDs.  They brighten up a dull cubicle.

4. Be Creative in the Design of your Cubicle. In one job, I had a big office with a window.  It was cold feeling because it was so large.  Also the glare from outside made it hard to see the computer monitor.  Don't get me wrong, I loved having this space but I'm into a warm and cozy room. The solution was to put a thin, colorful cloth across part of the top of my cubicle to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.  I pulled all the shelves off the wall and hung my own  fabric (if you know me and my passions, there was an obvious African theme).  Then we put back the book shelf and only the other bare necessities, including my own soft ambience lamps.  Things were moved around to manage the glare. I made it homey. People loved to have meetings in my cubicle.

If your company won't let you do this, just put lots of pictures up.  I call mine my "happy wall".  Posted are cartoons, pictures of tigers and polar bears, letters of thanks, birthday cards, etc..  They are things that make me feel inspired or generate a smile.

Whatever you do - make it comfortable and yours. You will be spending 1/3 or more time in your office. How about making it a place you would love to be or at least be comfortable there?

Until the next issue of eSharings, may you find ways you can find humor in your day. Try to  create a place that improves your productivity and also has a calming affect.

 

Sincerely,

Ivy Meadors
High Tech High Touch Solutions

www.ivymeadors.com / www.hthts.com

425-398-9292


BenchMarkPortal.com offers our Readers a RealityCheck!

Act Now: Through HDP, you will receive a F ++ REE RealityCheck at www.BenchmarkPortal.com. Simply enter your current data using promo code DRU for an immediate Performance Rating (valued at $500),

Meet Dru September 27 in San Antonio to have a ‘hands on’ review and track YOUR measurable difference.

 DruPhelps@BenchmarkPortal.com or 805 331-6284.

 

The 8th Annual Help Desk Professionals Conference and Expo

“Celebrate with the Legends of the Help Desk Industry and join the
 
Round-Up of Top Leaders in the Help Desk Profession"

"SAVE BY ACCEPTING OUR EXCLUSIVE OFFER TO ATTEND
THE 8th ANNUAL HELP DESK PROFESSIONALS CONFERENCE AND EXPO

Our attendees say that HDP is the most in-depth,
highest quality Help Desk conference available.  The intimate setting makes for maximum networking and educational opportunities. Speakers include:

Pete McGarahan, Char LaBounty, Malcolm Fry, Penny Reynolds, Patrick Bultema, Daryl Covey, Brad Worthley, Bill Price, Donna Holt, plus speakers from

Microsoft, Starbucks, REI, FAA, DSHS, CA, FrontRange, and others.

Check out the content-loaded program details.

Will you join us in San Antonio and be part of the exclusive group who join top leaders in our industry for these in-depth educational sessions, and take-home templates, handouts, and loads of resources, plus a flash drive with all of the presentations pre-loaded?

We invite event partners (sponsors) to join us and make a contribution to the exclusive community of practice at the 8th Annual Help Desk Professionals Conference and Expo

Email HDP@hthts.com now.


RESOURCES  (top)


Why Top Performers Use Mentors and Coaches

Most athletes in the majority of sports use coaches, personal trainers and sports psychologists.  Without those people in their lives they may not reach the goals they aspire to attain.  Coaching and mentoring can be done in person as well as by phone, known as tele-coaching. 

I have had mentors and coaches since I was very young.  I am a titled body builder.  Those of you who know me, acknowledge that I am small.  People told me I couldn't do it, let alone walk off the stage with a trophy.  When you believe in yourself and have others that believe in you, you can attain those goals.

"Coach told me: it's okay to want to quit. To feel like quitting. As long as you don't.."

- Fran Tarkenton, NFL champion quarterback

Top 10 Reasons to have a coach

  1. Have someone help clarify goals and develop steps to reach those goals.

  2. Be motivated and encouraged.

  3. Be held accountable for your actions and commitments made.

  4. Have someone who accepts you for who you are and understands what it takes to move you.

  5. They push you outside of your comfort zone.

  6. Provides structure needed to help realize your dreams.

  7. Have someone to listen to you and put things into perspective.

  8. Get your ideas and decisions questioned and challenged when you might start to stray.

  9. Have behavioral traits identified that impede your success.

  10. Be recognized for your achievements and appreciate the effort it took to succeed.

"According to Therese Kienast, a personal and professional coach based in Chicago, "Anyone can hire a coach, but the people who are most committed to success get the most out of coaching."

Weblinks that might get you started on the path to hiring a coach or becoming one.


Specifically for our Help Desk  and Service Desk Readers:

MOF: An actionable and Prescriptive Approach to ITIL

Source: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/itsolutions/cits/mo/mof/mofitil.mspx

"Microsoft has been actively involved with the ITIL community since 1999, both by using ITIL content and by contributing to new, updated, and expanded documentation. ITIL provides a broad spectrum of guidance documents that cover IT service delivery, management, and support, as well as elements of IT infrastructure, security, and application management. ITIL promotes the practice of applying descriptive guidance to achieve focused improvement in various areas of service management on a continuing basis."

"In contrast to the descriptive ITIL approach, the MOF approach is prescriptive, promoting continuous improvement of IT service management capabilities throughout the IT life cycle. IT organizations are ideally in a constant state of improvement. To assist in achieving this ongoing development, MOF provides prescriptive, process-driven tools and best practices through a growing number of specific service management functions. By combining MOF with Microsoft Solutions Framework (MSF), organizations can implement an end-to-end framework to manage their infrastructures—from planning and building through operations and support. "


THE 8th ANNUAL HELP DESK PROFESSIONALS CONFERENCE AND EXPO

Have you signed up yet to attend? Because if you haven't there are only a few weeks left to get the early bird discount and the phenomenal hotel room rates we have arranged for you.  Check these rates out.

The HDP 2006 special room rate at the Hyatt Regency is $179.00 per night, a savings of $180.00 off the regular room rate of $359.00.

The special rate for Government employees is $96.00 per night or prevailing Government rates. This is a savings of $263.00 off the regular room rate.

Please see the detailed program.  You won't want to miss this.


SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION (top)


We hope you enjoyed this edition of eSharings. Feel free to reprint this newsletter in its entirety with our copyright information intact.

To subscribe visit our website at www.hthts.com or reply to this copy with subscribe in the subject line. To unsubscribe click the link at the bottom of this email that says unsubscribe.

Note:  eSharings will contain links to sites on the Internet, which are owned and operated by third parties.  High Tech High Touch Solutions, Inc. is not responsible for the content of any such third-party site.

The 8th Annual Help Desk Professionals Conference and Expo

September 25-27, 2006
Hyatt Riverwalk,
San Antonio TX


GET ITIL Foundations Certified
 at HDP 2006


HDP 2006
Event Partners

Association of Support Professionals

Brad Worthley Intl.

Benchmarkportal

Call Center School

ContactCenterWorld

CRMAdvocate

CRMXchange

Customer Service Group

FrontRange

Government Customer Support Community of Practice

iET Solutions

Network Streaming

Northwest Call Center Professionals

Help Desk Northwest

Mike Rayburn

Northwest Support Professionals

TMC

VoIP Institute


Visit our website for useful information www.hthts.com
and
sign up for our newsletters! 


Get f++ree information
Previous resource-loaded eSharings posted on our website.


"Feel assured that we will be back at the HDP conference as I believe it to truly be the best format and size for learning."

"The small session size and the personal networking and discussion opportunities with the leaders of the industry are priceless."

"The speaker lineup is always top-notch and your staff continues to do a wonderful job of taking care of all of the details through-out the event."

Neil Stewart
Director of Technical Operations
QuikTrip Corp


Click to hear a video clip.
Be ready to laugh out loud.

Mike Rayburn Keynotes at HDP 2006. in San Antonio.

 

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