X amount of things your IT guys wants you to know.
There is something special about the lists. Lists are easy, visually appealing and short, which makes them absolutely favorite format to write blog posts in. When you are reading a popular blog of some sort, you would notice that most of the posts are actually lists. The headlines basically write themselves – X (usually a nice number like 10) things that blah. Users love those because they are basically a Reader’s Digest version of whatever the writer was trying to say, and lets face it, even if you would never admit to reading Reader’s Digest to anyone, fist thing you’d grab in a waiting room of your dentists office would be this regurgitated portion of news, events and literature to help you pass time. Hey, I am the same way, at times I would have Sports Illustrated to hide Readers Digest, just to maintain my manly image.
So the lists, summaries and so on dominate blogosphere, so what? What really gets me is that obligatory post that every blogger must write X things your “insert your profession” guy/girl/person wants you to know/do/act. Worst of all are developers/coders/admins and all other IT people write. I know your job is tough, you are dealing with issues that other people can’t or won’t understand, but for the love of all that’s holly, get off your high horse and face reality. You and I are rarely people who are center of the universe. We are liabilities, not assets. We can be compared by the crew that runs lunch rooms – we are there to serve people – be it clients that purchase your software, annoying guy from AP or a secretary who can’t manage simple task of writing a document to a flash drive. Our clients are people who make money, they do pay our bills. I am coding a software that automates report generation – well guess what – people who use my software make money for their companies. If you are coding an accounting software – accountants are making money. We, on the other hand cost money. We want the best hardware and software available. We want newest and best gadgets out there, we want free coffee and shorter working hours. I know, I get it, I am the same way. But what gets me is posts like this one.
I mean come on, just treat people with respect. Get back to them quickly, speak their language, don’t act all high and mighty in front of the users, and what’s more important to me personally – users pay your bills – listen to them. Don’t tell them what they need, listen to what they are asking you for and make it better. That’s how you run an efficient IT department and maybe even make a friend or two who is not an IT person.
Would like to hear your opinion on this.