7 Reasons Not to Fear Tech Workshops

At WWT, we hold many different tech workshops for our clients. These include our Data Driven Insights Briefing, at which we provide deep insights to our customers about their infrastructure, based on an analysis of their technology ecosystem, showing them exactly what they have and helping them identify opportunities for improvement. We've discovered that often clients experience some trepidation before attending this briefing. Why? Like a dental x-ray or a biopsy, they've explained, you don't know what you're going to find until you really look. Ignorance is bliss.

Yet there's no reason for fear, especially if you follow these simple tips.

1. Know that it's better to face your real situation than to worry about what you will find. 

Often, people find they are doing many, even most, things well. Even those who find some areas for improvement they did not expect felt empowered and relieved. Moving forward requires having a clear understanding of what you have, what is working, what gaps may exist. This briefing will shine the light on opportunities to improve. It's also a unique opportunity to sit back and take a thorough, objective, holistic look at where you are.

2. Give us your honest perceptions upfront and seek out feedback from others in your organization to share as we gather information.

Feedback tips us off to certain areas we should take a closer look at and helps us address perception versus reality if there turns to be a disparity. Many IT organizations are siloed, or certain groups and individuals have specific areas of responsibility, and this exercise may be the first time your organization can gain visibility across all areas. Shining the light on the whole situation helps your team understand interdependencies and identify opportunities for meaningful, long-lasting change and improvement. 

3. Be aware that it won't hurt.

Many, if not most, companies have trouble getting a clear view of all their data. It may be because they don't have time given all their responsibilities or they can't correlate across multiple infrastructures. IT leaders expect that such an undertaking will take an immense amount of effort. The truth is, with our proprietary process and effective tool, in combination with our experience and data-driven approach, we can provide that clear, holistic view through a single pane of glass, with surprisingly little time or effort on your part.

4.  Don't take it personally.

The briefing is based on fact; the data will tell us everything we need to know. No judgment. Remember, this is not about exposing you; it's just a diagnosis and a starting point. Besides, you're not alone. We've seen it all. And we know how to help, no matter what we find.

5. Recognize that you don't have to fix everything at once.

So where do you start? It doesn't have to be overwhelming, and you don't need to spend many millions of dollars. You can start small. A tech workshop helps us build a plan for you with recommendations for prioritized actions that can have real impact. That may entail removing data you no longer need or moving a certain set of data to a different location. We always provide practical, actionable roadmaps you can choose to follow on your own terms and at your own speed.

6. Remember it is an essential step in cloud and security strategies.

Once you have a clear view of your situation, you can make informed, intelligent decisions about moving apps to the cloud or adjusting strategies. In fact, the outcome is like an IT atlas, or a collection of maps that you can use to move in any direction you choose. It gives you the big picture that allows you to make informed decisions about almost any aspect of your environment.

7. Be open to the data.

Sometimes participants in the workshop learn that their perceptions turned out to be right on. Other times, they are surprised at the findings. Either way, the data can help you identify significant opportunities, provide cost savings or reallocate budgets in ways that drive business. The workshop serves as a check and balance, a second set of eyes, a way to identify gaps that may not be in your purview but affect you, that can validate and justify, and even remove blame. It also is the basis for finding ways forward, and a way to shortcut and make informed decisions faster.

Fortunately, our customers overwhelmingly report positive experiences after any initial concern. These tips will ensure your experience is positive too.