DIY (Do it Yourself) communication is allowing others to contribute and manage their own content, increasing their responsibility while allowing some flexibility and freedom. Think of it as a self-serve method for preparing and producing content. You still have to provide framework to deliver the goods, but the effort is collaborative. There’s a reason why people prefer self-service.
4. Before We Start
Are you asked to do more with less or more with
the same?
Do you have spare time to work on interesting or
high-value projects?
Are you provided everything you need when others
ask for your support?
Would you like to offload or share a portion of your
work with others?
5. My Story
Progressive Journey
Solo Tech Writer (long road)
Tech Comm Manager (interesting ride)
Comm Director (next opportunity?)
Success of DIY
Do more with same
Improved reputation
Can manage remotely
6. What is DIY Communication?
Full service vs. self service
Self service is now (ex: gas and food)
Enabling others to participate in process
They initiate, contribute and have responsibility
It’s their content
Focusing on preparation and deliver
You’re still responsible, service is different
7. How Does It Look?
It’s a system
Identify customers (Internal and external)
Consider services (What to Offer - next)
Design the results (Deliverables)
Identify resources (People and Materials)
Make estimates (Schedule)
Process and assemble (Methods and Tools)
8. What to Offer?
Simpler, easier things
Repetitive things
Predictable things (regular work)
Mature, consistent things (few changes)
Common, standard things
Assignable things
NOT complex, complicated, custom
12. Closing Thoughts
DIY Communication opens doors
Improves productivity (more with same)
Others are more involved in process
Results are good enough (quicker and
cheaper) – what people want
Results are more consistent (less variable)
13. Questions
What do you think?
What DIY ideas or examples do you have?
Anything else?
Thanks for joining us today. I’m honored and glad to be here - happy and privileged to be speaking with you.
Events like this are an important part of professional development and personal growth. It’s a great opportunity to learn, share ideas, and meet people. You cannot get this sort of experience from a webinar, so kudos to you for joining and participating.
Speaking of participating…
I’d like this to be a helpful, interactive session, so I will pause during the talk to ask for input and suggestions – plus leave time at end for questions. Feel free to volunteer or contribute when prompted, though I may cut some conversations short if we’re crunched for time (we can continue offline).
Here are some of my goals for you with this talk, which I hope you take back with you:
Expand your repertoire and skillset
Consider options to kick start your career
Motivate you to reach underserved audiences
To help me better understand the group and tailor my talk to your needs or goals, I have a few questions.
What drew you to this session?
What do you expect or hope to learn today?
Poll:
Are you asked to do more with less or more with the same?
Do you have spare time to work on interesting or high-value projects?
Are you provided everything you need when others ask for your support?
Would you like to offload or share a portion of your work with others?
My goal for today is to provide some examples and ideas for solutions to these important challenges, based on my experience and successes that I’ve had. I hope you’ll share your own experiences and ideas as well.
Hello, my name is Todd DeLuca. I’m active member and volunteer with STC (good portion of my service). Chapter President (Philly Metro) and more recently as Chair of STC Summit
My career as a technical communicator (over 15 years)
Worked as graphic artist (with Economics degree – Imagine that)
Enjoy writing procedures and went to graduate school (new career)
Found work in software industry (gainful employment)
Worked solo for about 12 years, then became manager for last 4
Wore many hats, small shops, whatever was needed (flexible and versatile)
New chapter? focused on business communications
Offering DIY services in our organization has allowed me and my team to grow, expand, and shift (move into other things). Have been able to increase workload and productively with DIY service (do more with less). Has increased my exposure and reputation in organization. Can’t move somewhere else you pass work on to someone else.
Did I mention that I have not personally seen anyone from my company in 2.5 years? Including never meeting my previous two bosses.
DIY (Do it Yourself) communication is allowing others to contribute and manage their own content, increasing their responsibility while allowing some flexibility and freedom. I’ll try to demonstrate how this model works and why it can be a win-win proposition (for at least a portion of your work).
Full service vs. self service (think about differences) - gas and food models
Kiosk vs service desk
Dine-in vs. take out
Online vs. phone ordering
Full service vs. counter ordering
Think of it like self-serve method for preparing and producing content. You still have a responsibility to provide framework or resources and deliver the goods, but the ’customer’ has some responsibility (the effort is collaborative). Like pumping gas, there’s a reason why people prefer self-service (and full service is nearly dead). There’s less labor involved and more people can be served with same resources. It’s basically cheaper, easier, and quicker with comparable end results.
Another example is kiosk ordering. Your customer can order a service, specify options, and then you deliver the final product. It can be similar to Mongolian cooking with people supplying the raw goods (content) and you doing the cooking and final preparation (plating and finishing). The results are comparable to full-service cooking, but quicker and less costly (time or effort). Very efficient process.
Enabling Others to participate in process
They Initiate, Select Options, and Contribute
Focus on Preparation and Delivery
Manage the system and process
Less Service, Limited Choices
Consistent Results
Think about Internal and External 'customers'
Customers know what they want
Meeting their needs
Helping them accomplish their goals (a deliverable)
Who to offer (people who use or ask for your services)
Co-workers
Leads or managers
Clients or customers
Vendors
What to offer (focus on simpler or high-volume items)
Easier things
Quick or short things
Repetitive things (reports, reviews, drafts)
Predictable things (people ask for regularly)
Mature things (few changes or minimal customization)
Example: reports, internal or client communications, delivery preparation or packaging (final assembly), content edits or reviews, …
Think common things
Think standard things
Think consistent results
Think assignable things
How to design (not focus of this talk)
Document processes and procedures
Break tasks into smaller chunks
Automate processes (think assembly line)
Use existing tools (Website, Excel, SharePoint)
Repetitive things (reports, reviews, drafts)
Predictable things (people ask for regularly)
Mature things (few changes or minimal customization)
Example: reports, internal or client communications, delivery preparation or packaging (final assembly), content edits or reviews, …
Think common things
Think standard things
Think consistent results
Think assignable things
How to design (not focus of this talk)
Document processes and procedures
Break tasks into smaller chunks
Automate processes (think assembly line)
Use existing tools (Website, Excel, SharePoint)
Efficiency (time saved)
Reduces small stuff
Productivity (less effort, same output)
Accessibility
Accountability
Others value and appreciate
Increases visibility of work
Increases transparency of what you or your team does (may look too ‘simple’ or easy to others). Both a Pro and Con.
You’re still Responsible for Delivery
Must Support and Follow Up
Work may be passed on to others (administrators, off shore, etc.). That’s OK.
May feel like you’re giving up ‘control’ (you are).
Customization (may have to limit changes)
Limited offerings (few DIY work candidates)
Workload may increase (if popular)
Who else can support or make changes (share the load)
You may be thinking this sounds like it’s taking away work or control and passing it on to others. This is partially true, but I’ll argue that it’s worth considering.
Here are some reasons:
it allows you to accomplish more with the same or less (people or resources)
If you or team are short-staffed, it makes your work life easier
Your customers are more involved, engaged, and collaborative in the process (more active participants) – building
Customers are happier they have flexibility and input to manage some of the work themselves (service is better, projects start and finish sooner)
Time and effort are freed to work on more meaningful tasks, projects, or career-growing activities
It distinguishes you from others and shows decision makers that you’re making improvements (positive difference)
Systems are usually easier and less hassle to deal with or fix
Is this session what you expected?
Does the topic or suggestions resonate?
Look me up or approach me during the event.
Send me an email or connect with me via Twitter or LinkedIn.
I have business cards.