Microsoft Office Mistakes to Avoid. Why Online Video, Live Software Training Improves Your Business

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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 25 percent of all full-time workers spend 49 or more hours on the job each week. Why not work smarter instead of harder? Technology is a great tool and can be difficult to use especially software programs like Microsoft Office. There are lots of mistakes businesses can make with Microsoft Office but here are 5 common mistakes and how to fix them:

1) Untrained Staff. The sink or swim method of learning isn´t always the best especially with software that is unfamiliar to employees. The solution is the have a structured training program around your needs. Generally off the shelf training programs are great for basics but to optimize your business you need customized training. You might consider online training to save on costs. Corporations save between 50-70 percent when replacing face-to-face instructor-led training with electronic content delivery.

2) Inadequate Equipment. Unfortunately, Microsoft Office can be a resource hog meaning if your computer isn´t powerful enough then it could not work very well. The recommendations on the box are usually just minimal requirements and the real requirements really depend on how you´re using Microsoft Office and your computer. The more applications you use the more powerful of a computer you will want. If your computer is not right sized then you can spend hours over the course of a year waiting for the computer to load or perform a calculation.

3) No Standards. One major factor that many business over look is not standardizing their work. For instance if a budget has the same format form year to year or a PowerPoint presentation has a standard template it makes it much easier for the employees to use Microsoft Office. Think of it like using an iPod. The iPod is very simple and consistent with its interface. Until recently you could pick up any iPod and use it the same way.

4) Not the Right Tool. Sometimes Microsoft Office is not the right tool for your needs. For example, you may not want to make a PowerPoint presentation for every speech or presentation you have to give. If you don´t need to use Office why waste the extra time. The trick is knowing when to use it and when not to use it and that is a case-by-case solution.

5) Not Keeping Up with Change. Once you have trained your staff, you have to keep them current or else technology will leave them behind. New versions of Office have been coming about every 2 years. There are constantly new add-ons and tricks that you can learn by just continuing to learn. Again you may want to consider online refresher courses to keep current.

The 5 points are a great place to start to avoid mistakes with using Microsoft Office. Just remember to keep your staff trained and make sure you are using the right tool for the right situation.

If you have any other questions or comments, please send an e-mail to ContactUs@MyComputerBuddies.com or visit our website www.MyComputerBuddies.com

Ankit Patel

Owner/CEO

My Computer Buddies

ContactUs@MyComputerBuddies.com

www.MyComputerBuddies.com