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Dec 13 2017

Automation … Is It Your New Competition?

“The first rule of any technology used in a business is that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency. The second is that automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency.” – Bill Gates

 

Automation has come to customer serviceYesterday, I was just about to put my fingers to the keyboard and write about the anticipated impact of automation on certain careers when the power went out. No problem I thought, I’ll simply call the hydro company to see if there is a power outage in my area. Unfortunately, this was a more challenging task than expected. My cell phone battery dipped into that anxious red zone of very low power while I was speaking with a very slow automated voice system.

The automated customer service system was so sensitive that every time I coughed, sighed, or a bird outside my window chirped in the background the automotive service would abruptly pause and ask “Can you please repeat that?”  I crept into a bathroom, away from the chirping birds outside my office window, to verbally verify my phone number to this patient robot. I was dumbfounded when it repeated a string of random-seeming digits back to me. Not one accurate digit. Eventually, I gave up and pressed zero finally hoping to speak with a human. Within 5 seconds, a polite woman on the other end confirmed that the power had gone out in my neighborhood but would be back on within the hour. As I hung up I had to chuckle. The irony that I was just about to share my thoughts on the pervasive presence of automation was rather amusing.

“In many cases, jobs that used to be done by people are going to be done through automation. I don’t have an answer to that. That’s one of the more perplexing problems of society.” –  John Sculley

 

I fully understand why automated services exist. At times, automation can be extremely cost effective for businesses. The downside is that many workers are being replaced by automation. It’s unrealistic to undo technology or deny the benefits associated with automation. But, there needs to be some preparation for the inevitable job loss that will occur in the future because computers and robots have taken those jobs. We have already seen workers in the manufacturing sector lose their well-paid jobs to machines. It’s now anticipated that technology (especially, artificial intelligence and machine learning) will start to replace white-collar professions too. Once more, it would be foolish to assume some jobs are somehow immune from this trend toward automation. You just have to look at the history of industrialization in the last century to confirm its existence is as rapid as it is widespread.

Man in front of graphic interface screen

“Technology… is a queer thing. It brings you great gifts with one hand, and it stabs you in the back with the other.” – Carrie Snow

I often work with clients who are facing uncertainty in their careers or are concerned about their job security despite having solid credentials and work experience. These professionals often need more nuanced career advice because what may have worked in the past may no longer apply. The impact of automation on white collar occupations will trigger more employment insecurity for certain people. The fact that provincial and federal levels of government are pilot testing basic guaranteed income benefits reinforces the fact that troubled times are coming.

As an I/O psychologist who offers nuanced career coaching, I have strategies that will be suitable for business owners and HR professionals who are dealing with this growing problem (or trying to adapt/stay ahead of it). Some of those ideas may be addressed in future blog posts. For now, employees who are concerned about how these changes may jeopardize their work I’ll offer a few preliminary ideas. Try to develop skills and knowledge that are difficult to outsource to a robot or a piece of software including:

  • managing and developing others
  • critical thinking
  • creativity
  • strategic thinking and problem-solving, especially in situations where there’s no clear path forward or an existing playbook
  • a learning mindset
  • an entrepreneurial outlook

 

No doubt, there’s much to contemplate and plan in order to stay out in front of these issues … and it’s a problem that’s way beyond the scope of what I can address in a blog post.

If you’d like to discuss the anticipated impact of automation on your career, I invite you to contact me by email, phone, or via direct message on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

More than career coaching, it’s career psychology®.

I/O Advisory Services – Building Resilient Careers.

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Dr. Helen Ofosu · Tagged: automation, operations, Technology

Dec 11 2016

How to Take a Vacation From Your Marketing

CHuntly

As a business owner, the most important thing you can do for yourself is take a break. It also happens to be the hardest thing to do if you are trying to run your business because the moment you go silent on the marketing front you will lose audience interest.

With the holidays right around the corner, it is the perfect time to take a breather from 24/7 entrepreneur brain. Taking both a physical and a mental break from your business (even if it’s a staycation) will help you avoid burn out.

If you’re looking to take some time off this holiday season, don’t let your marketing efforts suffer. Here are a few things to consider to keep that momentum going throughout your time away.

  1. Blog early: You should have a regular posting schedule for your blogs so your audience can come to expect content at a certain time. Keep that schedule going while you are away by writing your blogs ahead of time. Most blogging platforms will allow you to schedule each blog to go live at a specific day or time.
  2. Automation is your best friend: This requires a bit of planning, but if you work ahead of time, you can schedule content to go out while you are away. Work with a program like Hootsuite, Buffer, Mailchimp, etc. Try to stay away from the bots that automatically like and comment on posts as those can seem too contrived.
  3. Delegate tasks: If you already have a team in place, make sure you put someone in charge while you are away. Empower them to make decisions without you, but let them know that you are available for emergencies. If you are a solopreneur, hire someone you trust to look after things while you are gone. Start working with them at least a few weeks in advance so they are fully comfortable while you are away.
  4. Prioritize tasks: Not everything has to be done right now. Have a look through your to do list and rank everything by due dates. If there are things that need to get done before you leave, then get them done. If you have tasks with no due date or ones with later due dates, leave those to get done when you get back.

After taking some time for yourself, you will find that you return more refreshed, which usually leads to more energy to put into your business. Taking time away from your business will allow you to approach your business from a new perspective. It will make you a better business owner – and your marketing strategy doesn’t have to suffer.

Candace Huntly is the Founder and Principal at SongBird Marketing Communications, an award-winning agency working to take organizational and individual brands to the next level. With a passion for all things related to creativity and strategy, she specializes in business intelligence, marketing & branding, content strategy & development, media & influencer relations, and social media. Basically, if you need to put your brand, product, or cause in the public eye, she will find a way to do it, while making the approach unique to you.

Connect with Candace

Facebook/Twitter/LinkedIn/email/Website

Get organized for 2017

2017-workbook

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Candace Huntly, Uncategorized · Tagged: automation, blog early, breather, buffer, business owner, Candace Huntly, delegate, holidays, hootsuite, MailChimp, marketing, mental break, physical break, prioritize, solopreneur, Songbird Marketing Communications, staycation, Take A Break, vacation

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