But how do you run these sessions remotely while creating that same energy? How can you maximise productivity and return on investment of time and resources? Virtual meetings tend to require more thought and planning to enable and drive business results in an engaging and inclusive way.

We consider some of the underlying assumptions around working in the same physical space to map to a fully virtual way of working model for remote creative thinking sessions.

Moving on from traditional creative thinking sessions 

It’s a general assumption that the investment of time (including travel), focus and energy is offset by generating innovative ideas. This leads to workshops and agendas which are coarse-grained, to maximise the investment in time people have set aside to contribute.

Being somewhere physically can lend itself more naturally to creating serendipitous moments and the feeling of connectedness. Yet, when organised correctly, these moments can be designed into a virtual event.

And when you factor in those other ideas such as travel, and focus, hosting a virtual event can improve those. A major benefit of virtual events is that there is reduced cost and no travel time – there may even be a reduced carbon footprint. This increased flexibility can result in increased attendance, allowing people to carve out the time and get themselves in the right headspace.

Now we have the digital tools to support virtual ways of working, it makes sense that people’s expectations have changed, and they’re more likely to expect virtual events in the future. A virtual event has the potential to be just as good as, or even more successful than a physical event.

What makes a good facilitator for a creative thinking session?

It’s important to remember that often ideation session attendees are diverse and in a lot of cases do not have close and pre-established working relationships. This means you need a good facilitator to help drive the session.

They will ensure that everyone is briefed on ground rules, agenda, objectives and required tools. Ongoing active facilitation manages the energy and focus of the group. When all are in the same physical location the facilitator can read visual cues. This needs to be done differently for virtual ideation sessions. Visible or declared accessibility needs can also be more explicit and actively catered for. We’ll go into some depth about how to manage these in the virtual environment.

How to flip from physical creative thinking sessions to virtual effectively

Examine your assumptions

• Video conferencing fatigue is real: Agendas should be much more granular in a virtual setting to ensure breaks.
• Introduce small breakout rooms to ensure everyone can share ideas.
• Establish ground rules.

Virtual accessibility

• Planning is key: Ensure you have accessibility factored in, such as automatic captioning.
• Consider everyone: Use the Accessibility Checker in your presentations and documents to ensure everyone can access them.

Virtual engagement

• Actively plan engagement: Use digital engagement tools to gamify sessions.
• Facilitate creative thinking: Implement warmups, games, and quizzes during breaks.

Virtual tools and processes

• Effective meetings take planning: Share a pre-brief of the tools and processes you will use so participants can familiarise themselves.
• Mistakes happen: Allow time in your agenda in case something doesn’t work right away.

Examine your assumptions for creative thinking sessions

When everyone joins remotely, we need to examine our assumptions of physical meetings. For example, we shouldn’t assume that all attendees have blocked out the half-day or whole day to collaborate. Conversely, we should be mindful that many will be sitting in their home office or living space. Agendas should be much more granular in a virtual setting. Allowing people the time to get away from their desk is a key part of this.

We should challenge our assumptions that workshops must be in a whole or half day event. Consider breaking up your agenda into ‘bites’. Make sure to include recap time to warm people back up. This also allows real time for consolidation of previous sessions and presentations of feedback and insights to guide the group forward.

This approach might mean more facilitation time is needed – potentially filling the time of two facilitators where one was previously enough.

Virtual inclusion

We all make assumptions of how we want to collaborate. Even if we’ve identified strategies to address our subconscious biases, inclusion requires extra consideration in a virtual setting. Virtual meetings have the potential to be a great leveller, where everyone is starting from the same place.

One useful strategy for driving inclusion in diverse groups is to task attendees to write an ‘about me’ slide which is shared ahead of the session. This can outline things such as:

• How I like to work
• My areas of expertise
• What I am hoping to get out of the session
• How I prefer to communicate

Facilitators can also use this to look at the balance of perspectives, objectives and experiences in the team. They can also allocate individuals to breakout groups to maximise diversity or concentrate expertise (as appropriate).

Another useful approach to drive inclusion is to structure your agenda around smaller group breakouts, followed by share backs with the wider group. Smaller groups still need an element of facilitation. However, generally the smaller the group the more opportunity everyone has for their voices to be heard.

Ground rules are also important to establish. Brief attendees to try to be more self-aware and to actively give each other airtime. Establish the use of the ‘Raise hand’ feature in Teams when they want to speak, for example.

In some cases, we have even seen virtual meetings become a cultural leveller, as they flatten organisation hierarchies – for example by reducing deference that team members might have for their boss in a physical setting.

Virtual accessibility

We need to actively plan for specific accessibility needs in virtual settings. In a physical setting visual cues may make accessibility needs more present. Yet, a remote setting may even be an enabler through the use of accessibility features in digital tools such as live captions. Like in physical settings, planning is key.

Virtual engagement for creative thinking

Engagement needs to be more actively planned. Warmups and ice breakers need to be more part of the agenda. Digital tools can help defend against distractions. Asking people to be present is a start. But techniques such as regular voting and gamifying participation can drive engagement. It can also help deliver feedback to facilitators on the level of group engagement and attention, and where help and coaching may be needed.

Consider side challenges – for example quizzes or cryptic puzzles, with prizes awarded to inject purpose. Creativity is your only limit. Make things fun! Equally, actively encourage breaks more regularly than you would with a typical set of back-to-back meetings.

Virtual tools and processes

There are many established design practices and tools to utilise which will help you establish the right methodology, tools and templates. Yet, we should be mindful of how these need to be modified, extended or changed for virtual meetings. Effective physical meetings require preparation. So do virtual meetings.

You’ll need to standardise the overall working method and toolset ahead of time, sharing this and encouraging people to try it out before the meeting. From a process perspective, a small working group should define the process based on objectives and create things like required templates, breakout meeting groups and process guides. And for the first time you try this, allow for things to go wrong by with extra time in your agenda – as they probably will.

Creating engaging experiences for everyone

Where do we get our best ideas from? Diverse groups where everyone has a voice to share their thoughts. That’s why ideation sessions are an essential business tool to solve the problems of today and create the opportunities of tomorrow.

And because we’ve moved more to virtual meetings, this means more people can take part, solving challenges quicker and building new ideas. When done in a clear and structured way, they can maximise human creativity and drives business results.

Creativity never needs to stop – even in a hybrid or remote working environment.

Find out more

Reimagine the new world of work

Discover how to respond to the new world of work with leadership, culture and practice

About the author

Terry Room is currently a Managing Architect for Microsoft Consulting Services in the UK. With over 20 years of technology industry experience, he leads a cross disciplinary team of consulting architects and digital advisors, with a focus on driving large scale business and technology transformation with strategic enterprise customers through the design of compelling business cases, resilient technology architectures, and transformation programmes which deliver sustainable business value.

The post How to encourage creative thinking inclusively and remotely in the new world of work appeared first on Microsoft Industry Blogs - United Kingdom.

For the first time ever, we’ve created a ready-to-download, easy to use PowerPoint holiday quiz template. It’s a super easy way to create your very own quizzes to play with your family and friends – whether you can be with them in person this year, or you’re Skyping in from afar.

This year, most of us have spent a good few evenings battling it out with co-workers and loved ones in online quizzes. It’s been the way we’ve been able to hang out with the people closest to us, near or far.

If you’ve ever felt the pressure of being quiz master, you’ll know that it’s a lot of work to prepare one. And at this time of year, you’ve got presents to wrap, a turkey to baste and tinsel to… tinsel. So you probably need a shortcut when it comes to the entertainment.

Or maybe you’re the designated quiz master for your work online Christmas party, and you’ve discovered that with great power comes great time-consuming responsibility.

Rather than spend an entire evening angrily re-sizing fonts, finding wintery background images in the depths of the internet, take it easy. You can easily download our template, fill in the blank text boxes with your own questions and get going.

There’s a space to include an introduction, round titles and even a slide for an introduction so as quiz master, you can get serious about the rules. To get you started, we’ll even share a few round ideas we’ve already tried and tested in our quizzes:

1. Finish the holiday lyrics
2. Holiday movie trivia
3. 12 days of Christmas
4. Holiday traditions around the world
5. Name the Christmas food

Best of all, it’s easy to play with those people who we can’t be with in person. Just share your PowerPoint screen on Skype.

It really is as easy as that. A holiday quiz PowerPoint template at your fingertips. Now if only presenting at work was this easy.

[msce_cta layout=”image_center” align=”center” linktype=”blue” imageurl=”http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/industry/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2020/12/Family-Festive-Quiz-_header.png” linkurl=”https://query.prod.cms.rt.microsoft.com/cms/api/am/binary/RE4LmUt” linkscreenreadertext=”Dowload our festive quiz template!” linktext=”Dowload our festive quiz template!” ] Joanna Saywood (McCann Erickson Advertising Li) https://query.prod.cms.rt.microsoft.com/cms/api/am/binary/RE4LmUt” linkscreenreadertext=”Dowload our festive quiz template!” linktext=”Dowload our festive quiz template!” imageid=”44456″ ][/msce_cta]

The post Introducing the PowerPoint Festive Quiz 2020! appeared first on Microsoft Industry Blogs - United Kingdom.

The best thing about events is seeing the community come together to talk, learn, and share knowledge. You know what else is great? Wearing your comfiest clothes, drinking tea or coffee from your favourite mug at home.

So what do you get when you combine the two? A free 48-hour digital event for developers where they can gain new skills, and learn about the latest technology trends that could deliver better outcomes for your business.

Most importantly, they will have a chance to chat with other devs from around the world and share experiences. This will help them continue their learning journey and gain valuable insight to other people’s experiences to build better apps now and in the future.

Held from May 19-20, our first ever digital Microsoft Build will enable your development teams to jump in and out of channels, join interactive sessions, talk to other developers, and get the answers they need to progress with their latest projects.

There’s so much going on in the 48 hours, but we have a preview of what you and your team can expect from Build and how it can help you drive business goals.

1.      5 talks to look out for

There’ll be lots of interesting sessions and talks on offer, but we’ve pulled out some highlights you can share with your dev team. They can learn about the latest cloud innovation on Azure with Scott Guthrie, explore the modern dev toolkit with Scott Hanselman, and hear from Satya Nadella on the importance of devs.

Take a look at our dev blog to get the low-down.

2.      Gain new skills

It’s important for your team to keep their knowledge fresh and to learn new skills that will help make them better developers. Make it a team goal to leave Build with a new skill, or a learning pathway to one.

Encourage your team to join talks, Q&As, and interactive sessions on building new tools and using Microsoft technologies to improve their DevOps toolkit. They can then use these new skills to build new capabilities to really drive business goals.

Employees could also earn a free Microsoft Certification test voucher and a chance to win prizes by completing some online learning modules on Microsoft Learn.

3.      Learn about the latest trends

Think of Build as a Parisian runway – but for technology. The growth of data science and machine learning is bringing new tech that is changing DevOps. Kevin Scott talks about some of the emerging trends that are reshaping software development.

Inspire your team by getting them involved in in-depth sessions on new tools and processes that will further drive your business values.

4.      Get creative

We get our best ideas when we’re surrounded by creativity. And there’s no better place than Build. When you or your devs hear of new tools or learn a new skill, it could spark a new idea. Live sessions with other devs will get the creative juices flowing.

You could go completely off script by encouraging your team to join our film festival. Not only will it spark creativity in a different way, but it will also get your team working together in new and fun ways, driving collaboration and building strength.

So get your team’s Steven Spielberg on and make a dev-version of Indiana Jones, a space odyssey with your team’s pets, or whatever else you and your team can think of.

5.      Get expert guidance

If your devs have a specific question, or need some help with a particular Microsoft technology, they can go one-to-one with our engineers in specially crafted sessions.

6.      Join your community

At the end of the day, Build isn’t Build without our amazing community of developers. Your team can connect with other devs from around the world in our sessions or social hours. Share tips, get knowledge, and gain new friends.

And it doesn’t stop after Build is over. Our community will keep the conversation and knowledge sharing going. There might even find a new solution shared that you could use to improve something in your business.

Sound pretty amazing, right? Luckily, you don’t have to miss out. Build is for you as well as your dev team. It’s a great chance for you to gain valuable insight into what’s coming, and how you can use new and existing technology in inventive ways to really drive your business goals.

We can’t wait for everyone to get together and share knowledge so we can all innovate for the challenges of tomorrow.

Join us for the 48-hour digital experience, at no cost, May 19-20.

About the author

Find out more

5 talks to look out for at Build next week

Build

The post Empower your developer team to learn, connect and code at Microsoft Build appeared first on Microsoft Industry Blogs - United Kingdom.

The worlds of study and work have changed

I’m in the final year of my degree, an overwhelming time of assignments and group projects, with a 10,000 word dissertation looming over me. But if I ever dare mention my student life stresses to my dad, he can’t help but remind me how different things were during his Computer Science degree in the 80s. It’s almost impossible to imagine how different student life was back then – no PowerPoint, no recorded lectures to watch back. And if you were writing an essay, you had to go to the library and actually read the books.

I’ll need a different set of skills than previous generations

When I (hopefully!) graduate, I’m going to be greeted by a very different workplace than my dad was. My closest colleagues may be based across the Atlantic, almost everything I do will be a collaborative effort rather than an individual essay. I’ll be on a constant learning journey where knowledge can become outdated in a matter of months.

With this in mind, it got me thinking about the extent that my university is equipping me with the digital skills I need to thrive in this ever-changing world of work.

University study mimics workplace reality

Visit any undergraduate lecture and you’ll be greeted by rows of laptops. Pen and paper are in the minority, with students preferring to take notes digitally. I recently bought a Surface Go for this purpose – small enough to carry around campus and perfect for taking notes. They’re organised in OneNote, with hyperlinks to videos, articles or books that my lecturer mentions. My Surface travels with me from lectures and seminars, to the library and to my desk at home.

Work-wise, some students prefer to set up station in the library from 9am-5pm, others prefer to work into the evening from home, or fit their studies around a part-time job.

University is strong on collaboration – not simply how to work in a team, but how to collaborate on a project effectively when meeting in person is a challenge. Students may have group calls via Skype, set up a Teams page or work on a shared document together.

Combined, our use of technology, flexible working and collaboration mimics the workplace that I witnessed on my placement year. In that sense, I think university gives students both the digital and work-related skills needed to transition effectively.

What could be done better?

There are some ways I feel universities could further develop the digital skills of their students. To me, these skills aren’t simply about learning how best to use the available tools, but about empowering students to think creatively around the future of the technology which will shape our lives.

We are undoubtedly experiencing the fourth industrial revolution, with predictions that 85% of the jobs that will exist in 2030 aren’t invented yet. So to what extent are graduates ready for this world?

I would argue that this is where universities could do more:

• Teaching people of all abilities to code

Coding is now taught at primary school, using simple devices like the BBC Micro:bit. My generation has missed out on that provision, so could find themselves being at a disadvantage. Everyone should have the opportunity to learn to code, with free courses offered to every student regardless of degree.

• Bringing technology into career discussions

All universities have a careers service. But to what extent is the fourth industrial revolution and digital skills embedded into the advice they are giving? Students should leave university with an awareness of how AI is going to change the world of work and ensure that the path they are taking is future-proofed.

• Nurturing soft skills like creativity

Students are assessed at every stage of our academic journey, from Year Six SATs, to GCSEs and A levels. University is a continuation of that, so we’re really, really good at passing exams. The real world isn’t like that. It values innovation, creativity and individuality. Universities need to ensure that despite the need for assessments, they are producing a generation of people who aren’t afraid to think differently. My generation is going to be responsible for trying to solve a range of the world’s most complex issues where there is no correct answer – we’ll need to be creative.

In my experience, universities are creating students equipped with the digital skills they need to thrive in the modern workplace. However, I think universities need to go beyond that and empower their students with creativity, innovation and problem-solving skills so they have the best chance possible of thriving amongst the fourth industrial revolution and beyond.

Find out more

5 steps to embed digital skills development into schools, colleges, and universities

About the author

Katie is, a 22 year old student at the University of Bath. She spent my placement year at Microsoft as a Technical Account Manager. Since then, she’s now returned to University, armed with new digital skills to help her navigate student life more effectively. Katie is fascinated by the future of higher education and how universities can prepare students for an ever-changing world of work. She is passionate about promoting women in STEM and empowering young women to consider a future in technology.

The post How to equip university students with skills for the digital workplace appeared first on Microsoft Industry Blogs - United Kingdom.

“Each of us must find true meaning in our work. The best work happens when you know that it’s not just work, but something that will improve other people’s lives.”

Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft

At Microsoft, we don’t just ask ourselves ‘are we making a positive impact on society?’

Each of us as individuals ask the question, what it is we can contribute too. We thrive on a culture of continuous learning – whether it’s equipping our employees with tools to learn new skills for the future digital workplace or hosting workshops to facilitate knowledge sharing with other companies and teach others what we’ve learned from our transformation journey.  

Our annual Ideas Generator does both. It’s a full day workshop that we run at Microsoft, and is a great way to skills share with charities whilst feeling a genuine sense of purpose in what you’re contributing – using technology to deliver social change.

This drive to be a team of ‘learn-it-alls’ (as opposed to ‘know-it-alls’) gives us all a real sense of purpose and value at work – and with the Ideas Generator, every one of us works towards something that means something to us on a deeply personal level, on a day that’s dedicated to the importance of making an impact.

Part of that impact comes from teasing out our own values as people, identifying what they are, why they drive us and how we can nurture them.

Brainstorming brilliance

The Ideas Generator day is a chance to confront some of the most difficult challenges charities face. There’s a strong emphasis on teamwork and delivering social good as, each year, we invite representatives from five charities to join us at Microsoft HQ in Reading.

In teams of 10, plus charity reps, Microsoft employees set out to understand a particular issue the charity has – for instance, increasing donations around a particular demographic or raising awareness of the good work they do.

Impact of ideas

Microsoft prides itself on its ‘learn-it-all’ culture – and, at its heart, learning is what our Ideas Generator is all about. It helps us all nurture a growth mindset, and a culture dedicated to not just learning but understanding.

This is an opportunity for employees to go beyond their usual experiences and see the world from a different angle; it’s also a day when charities can discover new ways in which tech can help them. As one charity rep told us: ‘It’s great to come to Microsoft and have our eyes opened to technological options. It’s really good to learn from people at the forefront of the fourth industrial revolution.’

The ultimate winner of the day has the chance to take their idea to the next stage of potential development – literally making good on the promise of the day. However, our combined ideas can even spark fresh thoughts for charity leaders who can explore new ways to apply tech in their organisation. The real winners, though, are those who depend on the services of the charities. If technology can empower them in any way, then it’s all worthwhile.

This year, the winning idea was one that the judges said ‘rode the current trends in technology’ and ‘created an industry standard that normalised the issue.’

Better still, other ideas won’t lay dormant, but will evolve from being conceptual to being created – so watch this space…

Generate your own ideas

The Ideas Generator is a concept you can bring into your own organisation – and it’s easily scalable. These are some tips on how to run your own Ideas Generator day.

• Introduce a culture of learning into your organisation.

The modern workplace demands engaging employees and encouraging them to learn new skills that both help them and support your business. This is the foundation upon which the Ideas Generator is built

• Choose one or more good causes.

It’s important that those you wish to help are close to your heart – it won’t work unless you and your employees are passionate about it. If you’re a small company, choose one or two organisations; if you’re larger, try up to five. This keeps the day and your team’s minds focused. Also encourage nominations from passionate employees. Personally, I put forward The Sepsis Trust charity after hearing the CEO on Radio 4 and it sparking some ideas with me on how technology and Microsoft may help. It struck me how many people are impacted by the infection and if Microsoft could spend some time with them then maybe we could explore ideas.

• Identify how your products, services, and solutions can help.

It doesn’t matter which industry you work in, everyone has something to offer those in need. It’s all about skills sharing.

• Create mixed teams.

Diversity is essential for success, as each employee brings different views to the ideas table. This lets everyone learn more, discover new perspectives, and even explore different areas of your own business.

• Take the day.

Good ideas might happen in a heartbeat, but it can take time to really refine them. This day is also as much about understanding those you’re trying to help, and the challenges they face, as it is conjuring up ideas.

• Consider how, post-event, your external organisations can benefit.

Will you prototype the winning idea? Or put charities in contact with those who can support them? What will be the outcomes, and what does success look like?

• Be self-less.

This isn’t a day to promote yourselves or sell products – it’s about your team learning as much as the charities can. Sharing knowledge and skills and feeling a sense of purpose in your work.

Find out more

Discover how to create an engaged workforce

Uncover your value and purpose: watch the session from Future Decoded

About the author

Great stories demand heroes, emotions, and insight. As Storytelling & Digital Destinations Lead at Microsoft UK, Victoria Oakes places these principles at the heart of Microsoft UK’s content output. In this role, she’s driven to unify messaging and content across Microsoft using insights at the heart. Through her passion for engaging copy, visual storytelling, and data-driven insights, she truly cares about content being useful, interesting and easy to digest.

The post Ideas Generator: Empowering charities through technology appeared first on Microsoft Industry Blogs - United Kingdom.

I’ve seen the instrumental changes that technology has had in the workplace over my 20-year career in IT. Digital transformation has caused businesses to rethink how they work. And if you want to stay ahead of your competitors and seize the opportunities of today’s digital age, you need to empower your workforce to do more of what they love.

Employees are more engaged when managers understand them and give them the chance to do what they do best. And I believe the most effective way to achieve this is to give workers the tools and devices that encourage more productive ways of working, freeing up leisure time you can spend in other areas.

Here are my five tips for boosting morale and keeping your workforce motivated.

1.      Get a better work-life balance

This idea is simple. Give people flexible devices and you’ll make them more creative, fulfilled, and productive. Look for devices that enable productivity, no matter where they are, while making it easy to stay safe and secure.

If you have devices like the Surface which work for a range of working styles, you can make it simple for employees to work how, where, and when they want. We’ve also grown our Surface family to include devices which are optimised for collaboration. By doing this, you’re encouraging employees to have a healthier work-life balance. In turn, this increases employee productivity and satisfaction.

Most empowering of all, Surface devices, Windows 10 and Microsoft 365 are built with inclusive design at heart. This means we design for all needs. By having these products in your business, you’re showing that you support a diverse workforce, and research has found a direct correlation between diversity and increased innovation

2.      Collaboration made easy

With more employees working remotely, it can sometimes be difficult to feel like a ‘team’, when you’re not sharing the same office space. Thanks to devices such as the Surface Hub 2S, though, you can make collaboration easy again.

The Surface Hub 2S uses all the tools and apps found in Microsoft 365 and Windows 10 – such as Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Whiteboard –but with the added intelligence of the cloud. Make remote meetings less remote with Surface Onward, where everyone in the room and virtually can engage and ideas can flow. And with the Microsoft Whiteboard app, teams can collaborate on the same virtual canvas pre, during, and post-meeting. Plus, when paired with a mobile stand, the new lighter and slimmer Surface Hub 2S is easy to hold and handle, giving employees the freedom to collaborate anywhere, at any time.

3.      Encourage creativity

Technology such as AI and machine learning will increasingly automate routine, day-to-day tasks, meaning employees will have more time to innovate and add value. In fact, according to the Future of Jobs 2018 report from the World Economic Forum, creativity is one of the key skills increasingly needed in order to be successful.

Elsewhere, Adobe’s State of Create survey revealed that UK businesses that invest in creativity are 81 percent more productive, 80 percent more likely to have happier employees, and 84 percent more innovative. The report also found that 78 percent of UK employees thought technology is a key factor in being more productive.

4.      Improve communication

Clear and open communication lines are the lifeblood of any organisation. Not only among employees, but also between managers, the leadership team, and stakeholders, too. It’s important to not just hear, but to actively listen, and maintain a sense of team, even if you’re working miles apart.

At Microsoft, we help keep the lines of communication open via Microsoft Teams and Yammer. We host weekly Q&As with the leadership team, and everyone can openly discuss the business.

5.      Stoke passion and empower growth

An empowered workforce is creative and innovative. This gives your business a competitive advantage in the race for transformation. With the right technology, you can inspire productivity and let employees spend more time doing what they love. They’ll also be more empowered to grow.

Take the time to also encourage re- and up-skilling across your teams. By doing so, not only are you future-proofing your business, but you’re also retaining and attracting top talent, who will now be motivated to work towards your shared values.

[msce_cta layout=”image_center” align=”center” linktype=”blue” imageurl=”http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-gb/industry/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2019/04/SUR19_Hub2S_Contextual_009_RGB-1.png” linkurl=”http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-gb/surface/business/surface-hub-2″ linkscreenreadertext=”Enable team collaboration anywhere” linktext=”Enable team collaboration anywhere ” imageid=”11373″ ][/msce_cta]

About the author:

Sally Elliott is a creative marketer and has worked within Global IT for 20 years. Specialising in productivity and helping organisations understand the future of the modern workplace, she is an evangelist for flexible working and unlocking the creativity within all of us. Sally leads the go-to-market strategy for the Microsoft Surface UK Business, which sees her helping businesses understand how to get the best out of their people by providing the spaces, technology, and culture to inspire them.

The post 5 change management tips to motivate any team appeared first on Microsoft Industry Blogs - United Kingdom.

When G.F Smith and long term design partners Made Thought were deciding on a new shade of paper for G.F Smith’s iconic Colorplan range, they decided to ask the simple question; “What is your favourite colour?” and in turn discovered the world’s favourite colour. It also got a lot more—in the form of stacks of data from the 30,000 responses it received. In the process of finding out why people chose a particular colour, the company also found out the words that people associated them with.

From there, Made Thought built colour profiles. Colours that represented seasons and the natural environment. Ones that invoked luxury, design, or sustainability. Colours for emotions.

It’s not just Made Thought that found this correlation—a study at the 2004 Athens Olympics found that those who wore red were more likely to win. In the office, previous studies have found green can inspire innovation, and blue helps people channel their creativity.

The winning colour, by the way, was called Marrs Green.

A 2019 study from Oxford Economics and Ricoh suggests that revamping the office could unlock £36.8 billion in untapped GDP for the United Kingdom economy.

The office environment directly impacts business value through inspiring employees to be creative and productive. Plus, creativity is an important thing to uncover in your business. According to the the World Economic Forum by 2020 creativity will be one of the most important skills in the workforce.

Creativity allows you to innovate faster, solve problems in a new way, and make ideas a reality.

However, it’s not just about splashing some blue paint around. To truly inspire your employees, you need to create an office that has the right technology too.

Make it beautiful

Our research found that 73 percent of those surveyed considered themselves creative. But they felt like their workplaces stifled innovation, with work environment and culture at blame. Build a welcoming, fluid environment that allows for different ways of working. If you want to encourage innovation, for example, build spaces that match the stages of the creative process.

89 percent of employees said the office environment makes the biggest improvement to productivity in the workplace.

In addition to colour, considerations for the office ecosystem include creating spaces designed for collaborative or individual work. 23 percent of employees surveyed in our research said that a work environment with a mix of diverse spaces foster collaboration, socialisation, and focussed work that boosts creativity.

For example, Surface Hubs in collaboration rooms inspire easy collaboration in-person or online. Soundproof spaces give people privacy for sensitive meetings or a space to work without distraction.

An office that encourages different ways of working will make your employees more productive, and more satisfied.

Make it tech friendly

78 percent of UK employees believe technology helps them be more creative.

Just as your offices need to be fit for different ways of working, so do your devices. The right technology empowers seamless collaboration both in your new office space and outside of it. Surface devices do just this, allowing everyone to surface their creative potential in their own way.

In our research, up-to-date modern devices that allows employees to better collaborate with colleagues and capture their thoughts were among the top ten things that allowed them to be more creative at work.

By having devices that are designed work in different environments and in different ways supports more creative ways of working.

By giving employees beautiful workplaces that inspire them to be more creative and innovative, you will benefit from a workforce that’s motivated and excited to come to the office. Complement this with the right technology to enhance their creative flow, and you have a recipe for success.

Find out more

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Technology is interwoven in every part of our life and changing the very nature of the jobs we do. Within the next two decades, over 90 percent of jobs will require some form of digital proficiency, opening up new demands in job roles now and in the future. 79 percent of UK leaders believe it’s worth investing in re- or upskilling their current workforce. On the flip side, only 18 percent of UK workers are actively learning new skills to help them keep up with these changes.

There’s clearly a growing skills gap in the UK, and we need to ensure everyone is confident in both their soft and technical skills in order to succeed. If there are over 50,000 skills out there, which ones should employees and organisations focus on this year?

1. Working with and alongside AI

One of the biggest drivers of change is AI. Not just for data scientists and IT professionals, AI will affect everyone; and it’s important you and your employees understand how to leverage it for good.

AI is already transforming industries, making us more productive, and helping to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges. It’s also among the fastest growing skills on LinkedIn[3]. However, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF), 54 percent of employees will need significant re- and upskilling.[4]

At the moment, AI is being used across industries to deliver better business outcomes, improve customer experience, and drive productivity. For instance, a chatbot will answer common customer questions and transfer them to an employee if the questions become more complicated. This frees up staff to spend more time on complex matters and the things that require a more human response.

In healthcare, AI can be used to help provide more cost-effective, personalised treatment by automating elements of what have been historically task-heavy processes, such as referrals.[5] Financial services also benefit from better fraud detection and data processing to drive better outcomes. Whilst in education, AI can be used to help provide more personalised learning experiences and give valuable time back to teachers.

And it’s already starting to prove its ROI – organisations on their AI journey are delivering 5% better business outcomes than those who aren’t. – Maximising the AI opportunity, Microsoft UK

Tip: We’ve got resources to help you and your employees get the most from AI – whether you want to increase productivity or create a stronger customer experience.

2. Understanding the cloud

If you haven’t moved to the cloud yet, you’re probably either in the process or planning to make the move. In fact, 96 percent of respondents to the RightScale 2018 State of the Cloud [6]survey use the cloud. Due to this shift, there’s greater demand for cloud-skilled employees. It’s more than just having IT knowledge or a cloud expert in your IT team. By understanding the fundamentals of cloud and what it means for your organisation, you can leverage the best of the technology while ensuring your data remains secure.

Understanding how to use the cloud will help you be more productive, collaborative, and agile. To achieve successful digital transformation, it’s essential to grow your understanding of technology and how to embed digital in your strategic planning.

Tip: Every business can benefit from the cloud. Develop your cloud skills no matter if you’re an employee, business leader, or IT professional.

3. Analytical thinking

Technology has made our lives easier. Thanks to AI, we’re collecting and have access to vast amounts of information to help us make better, more informed business decisions[7]. As a result, organisations need people who can make smart business decisions based from this information.

Analytical thinking is when you use facts and information to identify the strengths and weaknesses of approaches to problems. It’s used to brainstorm, solve complex problems, and make informed decisions across job roles – especially those relating to data.

According to the WEF, analytical thinking will be the top growing skill in 2022[8]. When we consider how humans and AI will increasingly work together, analytical thinking will be vital to unleash the full power of this collaboration.

Tip: Data is fast becoming the currency of business. Improve your big data skills and learn how to analyse and visualise data to create stronger business outcomes.

4. Soft skills

Being digitally savvy isn’t the only requirement. You also need to know how to use these skills, when to use them, and what to use them for. According to the WEF, soft skills are more in demand than ever before. 57 percent of senior leaders today say soft skills are more important than hard skills. [9]After all, robots can easily sort through masses of data. But they don’t have the innate, softer skills such as creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving we humans have. Best of all, these skills are transferable across roles meaning they’re helping future proof the workforce.

According to research by Microsoft and YouGov, 62 percent of British workers define creativity as solving a problem in a new way. As process-driven tasks are shifted over to AI and machines, the ability to innovate and stand out from the crowd is becoming increasingly important.

“Creativity is at the heart of business innovation, and innovation is the engine of growth.” – McKinsey research

In fact, creativity can separate successful organisations from the rest. McKinsey found that creative organisations outperformed others in both innovation and financial performance.[10] The Adobe State of Create survey says that businesses that invest in creativity have a 78 percent increase in productivity and 76 percent happier employees.[11] We’re encouraging creativity from an early stage with our Maker Champions projects, letting children explore their creativity alongside computing and engineering.

Tip: 23 percent of employees believe a work environment that offers a mix of diverse spaces that foster collaboration, socialisation, and focussed work would boost creativity. Find out how to foster creativity in your workforce.

Take action: Invest in your digital skills

Organisations that have a culture of learning and collaboration, where employees have the technical knowledge and the opportunity to take risks, tend to outperform those who don’t by 10 percent. Employees who are active learners are more productive and empowered.

In a world being transformed by technology, developing yours and your employees’ digital skill set is more important than ever. We all have a responsibility to address the skills gap in the UK and build our workforce of the future. This is why we created our Digital Skills programme – a range of free courses, training resources, and guides to support business leaders and employees in the UK.

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[1] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/skills-companies-need-most-2019-how-learn-them-paul-petrone/

[2] https://www.shiftelearning.com/blog/statistics-value-of-employee-training-and-development

[3] https://learning.linkedin.com/blog/advancing-your-career/the-age-of-ai-is-here–here-s-how-to-thrive-in-it-

[4] http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Future_of_Jobs_2018.pdf

[5] http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-gb/industry/blog/industry/health/12-days-ai-christmas-rpa-nhs/

[6] https://info.flexerasoftware.com/SLO-WP-State-of-the-Cloud-2018?campaign=7010g0000016Jhv&utm_content=textlink1

[7] http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-gb/industry/blog/industry/cross-industry/5-ways-to-bring-your-data-to-life/

[8] http://reports.weforum.org/future-of-jobs-2018/shareable-infographics/?doing_wp_cron=1547717517.4147269725799560546875

[9] https://learning.linkedin.com/resources/workplace-learning-report-2018

[10] https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/digital-mckinsey/our-insights/creativitys-bottom-line-how-winning-companies-turn-creativity-into-business-value-and-growth

[11] https://www.adobe.com/content/dam/acom/en/max/pdfs/AdobeStateofCreate_2016_Report_Final.pdf

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Sally Elliott is a creative marketer and has worked within Global IT for 20 years. Specialising in productivity and helping organisations understand the future of a modern workplace, she is an evangelist for flexible working and unlocking the creativity within all of us. Sally now leads the go to market strategy for the Microsoft Surface UK Business which sees her helping business understand how to get the most out of  their employees; by providing the spaces to inspire them, the technology to enable them and culture for them to do their best work in the way that suits them.

I’m sure I don’t need to tell you this, but the world of business is changing fast! Of course, this means that UK companies are having to really re-think how they work. Especially if they’re keen to innovate quickly and keep up with trends.

At Microsoft, we understand that outdated tools, processes, and workplaces stifle people’s ability to work creatively. That’s why we’ve developed a range of devices that can be used in different environments and in different ways.

It’s also why we run Future Decoded. 2018’s event took place at ExCeL, London, on 31 October and 1 November. The buzzing two-day exposition was attended by nearly 10,000 delegates looking to grow their business in the changing world. Guests were encouraged to explore a wide range of stands and get hands-on with everything from a smart suit-fitting tool to a cognitive juice bar. That’s right: there’s a machine that analyses people’s faces to recommend the perfect drink. Isn’t AI amazing?

The world of business is changing fast. At Future Decoded 2018 we looked at the Modern Workplace

The Modern Workplace

At the heart of the exhibition space sat the Modern Workplace area. Here, attendees could learn how today’s employees can truly thrive in the working environment. The idea behind the Modern Workplace is simple. When employees have access to flexible devices that let them work their way, they’ll be more creative. They’ll feel more fulfilled. And they’ll be even more productive. Enter the Microsoft Surface range.

Read on to learn how these game changing devices can help businesses unleash their creative potential.

Stories from the Modern Workplace stage

At the event, we saw a number of business leaders take to the stage to share their own experiences with technology. Here’s some of my key takeaways.

How Bitwig Studio empowers composers

“We are all creative. Even when we don’t realise we’re being creative. We just need to express that creativity in a more targeted way.” That’s Mea Liedl of Bitwig Studio. Bitwig provides a music creation platform for budding composers and DJs. In fact, the soundtrack to the whole event was created by Bitwig’s resident DJ. Mea explained how the touch functionality of Surface devices makes it easy for users to intuitively make music.

“Touch technology isn’t going to replace traditional ways of creating music. But it’s definitely going to enhance them,” she said.

How WearHealth protects workers with AI

“AI’s going to be a big, big thing in the next industrial revolution.” We also heard from Esteban Bayro-Kaiser of WearHealth, who designs intelligent wearables for industrial workers. WearTech harnesses the power of AI and the IoT to manage – and predict – health and safety issues. He introduced the idea of the Worker 4.0 – the employee who uses wearable tech as well as traditional protective equipment. Think smart shirts that can track stress levels, and watches that can send out an alert if a worker falls over. Then think using Microsoft Surface to keep track of this data, from wherever, 24/7.

How Chillblast immerses consumers with VR

“VR can get your customers more involved in the design process of what they want to buy.” Ben Miles of Chillblast also took to the stage. He talked about how virtual reality can help businesses sell products, by getting customers more engaged in the design process. In the world of automotive design, for instance, buyers can choose specification settings and see them all come together. Similarly, architects can show customers what buildings will look like, before they’re built. And it’s all thanks to the Windows Mixed Reality headset.

“When architects engage customers with VR, it’s a lot more compelling than showing people print outs or 3D walkthroughs,” he said. “Good VR boils down to creating a compelling experience that doesn’t cost the earth.”

Advice from our experts

As well as all our fab speakers, we heard from some Microsoft team members. Our representatives talked guests through some of the top tips, trends, and technologies we thought they’d benefit from hearing about.

“The evolution to LTE has been the biggest, fastest technical adoption we’ve seen on the planet so far.”

Richard Warren, Surface Hub GBB

Rich talked about how Surface fits in to the world of LTE. According to his research, the global LTE market will be worth $997 billion by 2020. This projection is, in part, due to increasing requirements from frontline workers. Whether they’re working in a warehouse, on the shop floor, or out in the field, frontline employees need reliable access to the internet. Without the security threats that come with connecting to public Wi-Fi. Rich wrapped up his session by introducing the Surface Pro LTE, and all of its security and connectivity benefits.

“Technology should empower how you work. You should be able to work wherever you want, however you want.”

Jasmin Sohi, PC Accessories Category Manager

Jasmin’s on a mission to provide the very best tools and experiences for people using Windows. She wrapped up the Modern Workplace speaker sessions by teaching people about the Microsoft accessories on offer today. For instance, did you know that each mouse product is tested for 215 miles in a lab? And that if you’re a spreadsheet junkie, the Microsoft Precision mouse could be the one for you?

She finished up by saying how technology should enable you to work how you want, whatever job you’re doing, and that all Microsoft accessories champion mobility, productivity, and creativity. Which sums up the idea of the Modern Workplace nicely, I think.

If you went along to Future Decoded, I hope you had a great time exploring how the right tech could make your workplace a better, more creative, more productive place.

If you couldn’t make it, why not read my blog about the link between creative spaces and creative people? Or simply head over to the Surface shop to explore the latest Microsoft devices.

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