In this special bonus episode, Ryan and Lindsay are sharing some clips from the cutting room floor of Season 6. Tune in for advice on effectively automating your work and planning quarterly innovation days. Plus, get a little dose of paper hating to hold you over in between seasons.

We'll be back with more Practically Genius soon!

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Welcome to Practically Speaking, the monthly show where hosts Ryan and Lindsay talk about the topics that changemakers, digital leaders, and innovators like you care about most.On the docket for this month’s episode:

• [00:13] Automation trends
• [03:59] Poll: How many organizations are focused on automation in ‘23?
• [09:02] #PaperHaters: stats that will blow your mind 
• [12:49] One SMALL ask (with a big payoff)

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Resources:

• Digital Maturity Assessment 
• 2022 State of Digital Maturity Report
• Stop Big Paper blog resources

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Can automation remove the tedious tasks we all hate from our workdays? Daniel Zrůst, Solutions Architect at Make, believes it is possible—without needing any code or technical experience. In this episode, he explains the many benefits of integrating tools and automating workflows, such as improving speed to lead and removing human errors. Daniel also provides great suggestions on how to identify where to start your automation journey, as well as an easy blueprint for building your first “scenario.”

Identify a few candidates. Start your automation journey by focusing on the most painful yet crucial business processes.

Use no-code to fill gaps. You can rely less on developers and IT by providing employees no-code tools.

Avoid point solutions. Don’t create a “spaghetti of dependencies”—invest in software that has broad functionality and multiple uses.

Want to learn more about Make? Sign up for free and build your first automation yourself: https://bit.ly/3iqSYH1

You can also explore Make’s e-learning courses:

https://bit.ly/3IOdBHA

For regular Make users

https://bit.ly/3XkZf5z

for aspiring Make Service Partners

If you’re not concerned about cybersecurity at your organization, you’re putting your job at risk. A single successful cyberattack can negatively impact an organization’s revenue, reputation, and data for years. So what can you do to help protect your organization from data breaches, cyberattacks, and hacking incidents? Forrest Senti, Vice President of Programs and Operations at the National Cybersecurity Center, has some great tips to share. In this episode, he explains how organizations can improve their cybersecurity by using creative training methods, building better data policies, and adequately vetting the security of new tools.

Rely on automation Shift manual and paper-based processes to digital systems to minimize errors and risk.

Create thorough processes Ensure all employees know how to properly handle data by instilling clear procedures.

Invest in security training Find creative ways to engage employees in security training that keep it interesting and top of mind.

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Legacy technology can feel like the boogeyman sometimes. You know it’s lurking somewhere, just waiting for the right moment to jump out and scare you. Yet tackling a monster like legacy tech takes quite a bit of time, effort, and collaboration. Luckily, there are digital transformation executives like Mia Jordan to help guide us through these hefty projects. Her work at Salesforce focuses on leading government agencies through large-scale digital transformation efforts. In this episode, she shares some unexpected ways to modernize legacy systems and encourage people to embrace change.

Unite business and IT The goals and objectives of IT and general business units should be tightly aligned and support both areas of the business.

Show off progress Use demos and presentations as a way to clearly communicate progress on projects and encourage naysayers to embrace change.

Highlight opportunities Identify how automation and modernization can create more time and opportunities for employees to learn, grow, and thrive.

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Welcome to Practically Speaking, the monthly show where hosts Ryan and Lindsay talk about the topics that changemakers, digital leaders, and innovators like you care about most. On the docket for this month’s episode:

• [00:13] Making resolutions realistic
• [08:10] Wait…what does digital maturity actually mean?
• [14:30] How can we achieve team alignment in ‘23?
• [21:36] #PaperHaters: Let’s go back to the beginning

RESOURCES:

• Digital Maturity Assessment
• Geraldine Gray’s Episode of Practically Genius
• 2022 State of Digital Maturity Report
• Stop Big Paper campaign
• Stop Big Paper on YouTube

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https://www.formstack.com/practically-genius-insider

Working smarter, not harder is a major benefit of technology and digitization. But getting to this promised land can be difficult. Many challenges can derail digital transformation efforts, from a lack of buy-in to deadline issues and scope creep. How can you simplify the journey to digitization and optimization? Geraldine Gray, CEO of Salesforce consulting agency Endiem, has the answers. In this conversation, Geraldine shares digitization tips she’s gathered from 10 years as a business owner, project leader, and process innovator.

Start small Identify the tools and processes you already have in place that can be incrementally improved and maximized.

Find the pain Pitching software to colleagues is easier when you understand their most painful processes and identify how they could be improved.

Prioritize based on data Make prioritization of projects easier by relying on data such as ROI, past performance, and customer feedback.

Become an insider today: https://www.formstack.com/practically-genius-insider

Welcome to Practically Speaking, the monthly show where hosts Ryan and Lindsay talk about the topics that changemakers, digital leaders, and innovators like you care about most .On the docket for this month’s episode:

• [00:13] Documentation: why it’s your team’s efficiency superpower
• [07:50] How familiar are you with no-code tools?
• [10:30] How to avoid data silos
• [15:13] #PaperHaters: A BIG DISCLAIMER from Lindsay and Ryan

RESOURCES:

• Rose Anne Martinuzzi’s episode of Practically Genius
• 2022 State of Digital Maturity Report

COMING UP ON PRACTICALLY GENIUS:

12/15 Geraldine Gray - CEO of Endiem on avoiding data silos

1/3 Practically Speaking January

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Healthcare workers are burnt out—there’s no denying that. From back-office staff and IT teams to physicians and techs, healthcare professionals have been overburdened for far too long. Paperwork, outdated systems, and manual processes continue to eat up their time and max out their capacity. What can be done to solve this problem? Nurse Informaticist Specialist Kody Johnston has discovered a solution. Listen now to learn how no-code, low-code, and citizen development can free up healthcare workers from tedious, manual tasks so they can focus on what matters most: their patients.

Focus on practical innovation Look for opportunities to solve internal problems that have a large impact across your org.

Lean into automation Integrate tools and automate processes to improve communication, data integrity, and capacity.

Enhance patient journeys Use no-code and low-code tools to provide patients a better experience and boost overall engagement.

Become an insider today: https://www.formstack.com/practically-genius-insider

Data silos, duplicate data, and shadow IT, oh my! These common data issues plague organizations across the globe, causing inefficiencies to run wild. This results in poor experiences and frustration internally for employees, but also externally for customers. What can be done to solve these company-wide data problems? Rose Anne Martinuzzi has the answers. In this episode, she shares the strategies she’s seen work across her 15-year career in higher education IT management.

Use focus groups Begin building trust with colleagues by bringing together end users to discuss their technology needs, wants, and gaps.

Build a data governance committee Many common data and technology issues can be avoided entirely with strong tech governance in place.

Invest time in relationships Creating widespread change is easier when people feel heard, seen, and understood from the very beginning.

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