Bridging the Technology Literacy Gap in the Workplace

So, I remember being told by my mom “everything has a place and therefore makes it easy to find and easier to put back in its proper place.”  Little did I know that this would be my first lesson in becoming an organized person and professional that I am today. I think I drive my wife crazy with it sometimes and is the one common trait that I am known for possessing by my professional colleagues.  One thing I learned early on in my journey as an entrepreneur, which began more than 25 years ago, is the importance of being organized; not just for myself, but more importantly for my business clients & training students.  The only thing that has changed over the many years are the tools that I use to stay organized; both within my business and how I operate outside of my business wither at a client’s location or even in a classroom setting.  I'll be sharing during the broadcast more about an "organizational" tool that I use on a regular basis starting with my #1 tool for keeping me organized and that is the application – Microsoft OneNote. Food for Thought: Imagine purchasing an item and the instructions are missing from the box.  What will you do?  Here are two options; forge ahead using the picture on the box as a guide, bring the item back to the store, or use the Internet to search for and download the instructions.  Why is this important?  The instructions are organized in such a way that if followed, it will yield the best chance of success in putting together the item the way it was intended to be completed.  Without the instructions (a series of detailed [organized & planned] steps telling how something should be done) the desired results may not be achieved.

Troy A. Burgher states confidently and with great conviction that technology is the key to achieving one’s New Year’s Resolutions for 2019.  Coming off a severe medical issue in 2018, one of the comforting aspects of dealing with that issue (outside of the tremendous support of family and friends) was technology and how I was able to begin my preparation for a comeback year in 2019.  Technology afforded me the ability to learn new skills, communicate with family & friends, work on my newly created business, maximize the time I had due to being restricted to my home during recovery, and I was even able to develop a virtual business relationship another business owner for accountability. Over the next two TABRadio broadcasts (1/20/19 & 1/27/19) and also on my business web site’s (www.tabtraining.com) blog page, I will be sharing in more detail, how I will continue to use technology as a tool to develop and build up my self-discipline to handle the obstacles and discomfort associated with making changes in order to develop new habits.  It’s often stated that it takes anywhere from 21-66 days to form a new habit, so I must also show great patience for myself during this process; much like I‘ve done throughout my computer training career; lasting over a 25 year span.

Do something different this holiday season by giving someone a gift that will keep giving.  Give the gift of knowledge that will provide a long-lasting benefit and grow in value over time.  Today so much effort and time are spent on being “in the moment”, with very little time spent on planning for the future.  Everything has to happen now!  "I want an answer to my work issue by clicking on this phone app – now!"  Or, "I want a job paying more money because I want to live a certain lifestyle – now! Or, even better, I want the raise and promotion (that someone else worked hard to acquire) - now!  Even though I feel I am the right candidate, so what I didn’t take the employee advancement courses at work that would have qualified me for the raise and promotion."  I am sure that you've heard all of these scenarios before, ones that I have come across as a trainer with over 25 years of employee training and working as a freelancer facilitating computer literacy/Microsoft Office Application classes.  Why not take this opportunity to empower someone (family member, friend, or co-worker) to help them help themselves.  Show them you really care by helping them invest in building up their technology literacy?  Give that person the “Gift of Knowledge” this holiday season.

There are two "technology literacy" gaps in the workplace! 25 years ago, I started working in an office-type environment where one’s technology literacy was based on the ability to "use" a computer, a printer, a copy machine, and a fax machine in order to perform his/her daily job duties. So much has changed since then, especially when it comes to administrative-type tasks and duties that were once the sole responsibility of the administrative department or staff within an organization.  Now with so much information easily accessible in an unbelievably face-paced workplace, the dependency of an "administrative only" staff breaks the budget or it puts management in a tough position of dealing with their own "technology literacy" gap that exists between them and the admin line worker.   As a result of this, TAB Training & Consulting, LLC has created a unique service that aims to bridge the gap that exists between the employee and job-related admin tasks and the gap that exists between management and the admin front-line employees.  What used to be, and still is in many cases, the headache of a company's IT Department that exhausts staff resources, we are addressing through the employee onboarding process and by offering company-oriented and goal-specific training to relieve the stress caused due to the lack of administrative-related daily tasks.  Learn more about how we plan to address this situation through our virtual learning platform as we empower employees to become more efficient, effective, and productive users of technology.

Technology and computer literacy are important skills necessary to succeed personally and professionally.  Just like a carpenter needs the right tools, along with the knowledge and expertise on how to use such tools to succeed, so do we need the right tools in our technology tool chest to succeed in various aspects of our lives.  During this TABRadio broadcast session we will introduce our concept of a TABTechnology Tool Chest (Technology And Business Tool Chest) while focusing on April as Financial Literacy Month.  Therefore, featuring commonly used features within Microsoft Excel and looking at some under-used features all geared to help us with our personal and business finances.  We will discuss 50 general technology and computer literacy items you can also immediately add to your tool chest during our TABWeek celebration starting on April 29th and ending on May 3rd.  During which time we are offering four days of FREE webinars covering everything from "What's Under the Hood of Your Laptop/Computer System" to "Purchasing the right Microsoft Office Suite Product."  Visit www.tabtraining.com/tabweek.htm to learn more about and how to register for the upcoming webinars.  We are limiting each webinar to ONLY the first 10 that register, and we will be giving away an exclusive offer at the end of each of the webinars.

What a wonderful way to return to our regularly scheduled Sunday afternoon TABRadio broadcasts than on Mother's Day to acknowledge three individuals, yes you guessed it - all moms, that have been so instrumental in my life and in the development of the person that I am.   During today's broadcast, I will highlight how each of these individuals played such a crucial role in my pursuit of achieving success as a social entrepreneur completely dedicated to enhancing the human capital and technology literacy of individuals residing in socially and economically challenged communities. These three moms are my grandmother (Rose Hamilton), my Mom (Brenda Timms), and my sister (Tracy Burgher).  I am also the first to admit that there have been so many other moms that have greatly influenced the person that I have become, but these three are the ones that were pioneers to me - showing me how to survive against all odds and how to persevere against life's many obstacles.   Please listen in to hear more about how these three individuals have helped me develop those intangible qualitied I will need to achieve the success that I have outlined in both my personal and professional life.

Creating efficient, effective, and productive users of technology is what drives his passion for training, consulting, coaching and helping individuals overcome their fear and anxiety of technology and computers.  Learn more about Troy A. Burgher, a former resident of Edgemere Houses [of the New York City Housing Authority] located in Far Rockaway, Queens [New York City], and his entrepreneurial journey.  Ever since he stood in for a computer trainer back and “guru”, in the early 90’s, at the Rev. Mason Beacon Program within his neighborhood, he’s developed a passion for sharing his knowledge of computers and software applications with residents of inner-city communities; in particular desktop applications within the Microsoft Office Suite of applications.  Growing up in Edgemere Houses, there were no or very limited local technology and computer literacy resources, overshadowed by sports and craft-related activities, for Troy entertain his thirst for exploring computers.  This is what motivated him toward a life-long pursuit to bridging the technology literacy gap that exists in the inner-city community.  25+ years later of freelance training, facilitating technology literacy workshops, and developing training programs has given him solid practical experience in working with and motivating beginner and novice users; transforming them into more efficient, effective and productive users of technology and computers.

Six days of FREE webinars designed to inspire technology self-sufficiency facilitated by Troy A. Burgher and sponsored by TAB Training & Consulting, LLC is what TABWeek is all about.  TABWeek [12/13/15 to 12/19/15] begins with a Sunday afternoon [12/13 - 3:00 pm CST] TABRadio broadcast that will introduce the week's events and material that will be covered during following six days.  The TABRadio broadcast will also re-state the featured topic for December which is Organization and Time Management. For more information and to register for the webinars offered during TABWeek, please visit the web site: www.tabtraining.com/htm I hope you will listen to the broadcast and perhaps call-in to the show with a question.

Have you recently purchased a new desktop or laptop?  Are you a new or beginner user of Microsoft Office applications like Excel, Word,  PowerPoint, Outlook?  Are you looking to enhance your job search opportunities, but have limited knowledge or experience using computers?  Using Microsoft Office Suite applications?   If you answered YES to any of these questions, then call in to this LIVE Call-In TABRadio Broadcast. Live Talk is a TABRadio broadcast live call-in show created for YOU, the listener, to ask questions about technology and computers. These broadcasts are designed to help listeners take the first step in overcoming their anxiety and fear of technology and computers en route to becoming more efficient, effective and productive users of technology and computers.  Here the only "bad" question is the question that is never asked and keeps you from moving on to accomplishing the goals that have been set. **This is a special broadcast since it is the first event scheduled during TABWeek; six days [7/12/15-7/17/15] of FREE webinars designed to provide novice and beginner users with motivation and inspiration to begin incorporating technology and computers as tools to assist with achieving personal, professional and/or academic goals and to eventually become more efficient, effective and productive users of technology. Learn about technology and computers from Troy A. Burgher, a Microsoft Certified Professional, with over 20+ years of experience teaching and developing classes and course materials on Basic Technology and Computer Literacy for novice and beginner users.

Live Talk is a TABRadio broadcast call-in show where you the listener can ask questions about technology and computers. These broadcasts are designed to help listeners overcome their anxirety with technology and computers in route to becoming more efficient, effective and productive users of technology and computers.  Here the only "bad" question is the question that is never asked and keeps you from moving on to accomplishing the goals that have been set. No scripts. No pitches. And no commercials! Just 30 minutes dedicated to taking listener questions, LIVE on the Internet! Learn about technology and computers from Troy A. Burgher, a Microsoft Certified Professional, with over 20+ years of experience teaching and developing classes and course materials on Basic Technology and Computer Literacy for novice and beginner users.   Have you recently purchased a new desktop or laptop?  Are you a new or beginner user of Microsoft Office applications like Excel, Word,  PowerPoint, Outlook?  Are you looking to enhance your job search opportunities, but have limited knowledge or experience using computers?  Using Microsoft Office Suite applications?   If you answered YES to any of these questions, then call in to my LIVE TABRadio broadcast Sunday, 5/31/2015, at 3:00 PM [EST].