Process
More about our how we operate to help you make the most of technology.
We have a confession to make: we like technology, we think it can be a lot of fun.
The good news is that you don't have to become a geek to benefit. We have already done the hard task of developing tools that we know work and are useful for the ways that you work. Our job is to show you how software can make it much easier to do what you do.
Using technology isn't a goal in itself, but is only a means to reach your goals.
The software needs to be fully integrated into your everyday activities which means changing how you work. We recognise that it is not enough just to tell you about software so we help design new ways of working with these tools and stay on board to support the change management process and transition to the new working methods.
Preparing speakers for an event
At the last Civicon london, I was volunteered to prep the speakers. I sent 4 messages, starting about a month before the event, focusing mostly on:
- Define the topic and audience
- Slides
- Presentation
- Thank you (after the event)
I probably missed a few points: asking more the speakers to promote the event ... and didn't insist enough on getting their slides beforehand (have to admit that I was -as a speaker- late as well, and finished the slides the night before the event). Anyway, the other organisers though it helped having an even better level than the previous civicon, and most of the speakers found them useful (or funny, not sure).
Some speakers freaked out a bit feeling the expected level was too high for what they could deliver, I did my best to re-assure them... and it turned out ok at the end, according to the participants.
As of some things that I did beside these messages: discuss the topic and re-define slightly some talks, look at the slides and help, provide images to illustrate and general support during the day.
We did give a gift to all the speakers (small thing, as a token of our appreciation). Something else I'd warmly recommend doing: have a dedicated facilitator in each room, with a timer and 3 papers "5 minutes", "1 minute", "End". Ask them to tell each speaker before their session they are here to help and they will show the papers to them so they have a sense of the timing... and that they switch them off if they talk too long after the "end" ;).
Luckily, civicon doesn't have the same issue as other tech events and we don't have issues with sexist jokes and so on. If you think it might be an issue, empower the facilitators and tell the speakers they will be stopped if they do something that might offend or exclude part of the audience for no reason beside being "funny".
Feel free to re-use, mix and adapt for your event. If you improve on them, please send them back to me.
The Rules of CRM Club
...or the master plan to implement a shared contact database
- 1st rule: You do not talk about SHARING YOUR CONTACT
- 2nd rule: You DO NOT talk about SHARING YOUR CONTACT
- 3rd rule: If someone says "mine" or goes limp, taps out the migration is over
- 4th RULE: Only two guys to an interview
- 5th RULE: One step at a time.
- 6th RULE: No emails, no phones.
- 7th RULE: Management involvement will go on as long as they have to.
- 8th RULE: If this is your first night at CRM CLUB, you HAVE to enter a contact.
