Today I was brought in as the "technology expert" to help some stuff work during a client presentation. This actually happens to me pretty frequently, oddly enough. I don't consider myself any sort of master of technological things, but I took the time to learn at one point when I was going to be a part of running a meeting.
Our new coworker asked me soon after he started, "is there anything you don't do?" I guess not. But it all relates to my job in some way.
1. I learned the technology to run all of the equipment in the large conference rooms - invaluable in impressing clients by being able to control everything (lights, sound, ppts, and video) from my seat. And sometimes this regular gal is brought into meetings to get everything running after others have attempted and failed. It's not hard, it was just a matter of learning.
2. I'm a videographer. I know how to run two different types of video equipment and work with 3 different types of mics/audio. I can run the focus group room equipment or just a video camera. Close-up shots and film suitable for editing - I'm still mastering but I've had some good experience with it.
I also know how to finalize a DVD using our equipment, the time needed for dubbing (and no one knows this!), and what it takes to put a decent video together. I don't do the actual editing but it helps that I know the process so I am realistic with time restraints, how best to serve up the clips to be pulled, and how to patch things together so it flows and looks good.
3. I have put on the hats of different positions for a little while to get something done. I did a little competitive analysis, I've pulled images, sifted through music, used this really cool machine that turns paper into big stickers...all to get the job done.
There are more but it's just interesting how it's seen as so different that I know all of these little things. These skills actually just help to run a focus group smoothly or put together a presentation or understand what time is needed to get a video dub or edit back - everything that is indirectly related to my job and needs to get done. Why wouldn't I strive to know these things?
But what's most interesting to me is how I acquired all this knowledge. It's not some crazy extra investment in time because I was learning how to do my job. What I did was spent a little more time with each person I worked with to fully understand the process. I was being a planner! I asked lots of questions, and because I was new it was a great way to get to know people. Now it's just so that I can be sensitive to their time limitations and empathetic to what else they have going on in their role. (Our broadcast department is awesome but they are always swamped with a million editing jobs. It can't hurt that they know that I am doing what I can to alleviate the pressure on their end by giving them as much information as I can on timing, equipment needs, what a job entails, etc.)
You would be surprised by who doesn't do/know these things. Get to know your coworkers, find out about a different role, and help your work in the process.
I have always had a respect for each position in advertising and how all of those pieces fit together. Now I have respect for the people in those positions.
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