Success at Work : Techniques : Computer Literacy

By Stephen Bucaro

It's hard to believe that there are people in today's workforce who don't know how to use a computer. In today's society, being computer illiterate is equivalent to being functionally illiterate. Obviously no one reading this article is computer illiterate, but maybe you know someone who thinks they can avoid computers and still be successful at work.

Let me tell you a story about a good friend of mine back when I worked at Motorola. The company moved manufacturing of automobile alternators offshore, resulting in his transfer to my department. Although he had about 20 years with company, this was to be his last stop before being booted out door.

He was assigned to me as an Electronics Technician, and first assignment that I gave him was to lay out a small printed circuit (pc) board. It was a tiny circuit for a tester, so computer drafting was not required. He could just sketch it out on paper. After several days, he came back to me explaining that he didn't have technical ability to lay out a pc board.

An Electronics Technician that couldn't lay out a simple pc board? Don't all Electronics Technicians make little hobby circuits at home? At least all technicians I knew did.

I explained that he needed to draw outlines of components and then use schematic to draw lines between components connections. Then, maybe rearrange components if that would result in fewer crossing paths. I also explained something much more profound, how to deal with complexity of technology.

Many people, when they come into contact with technology, consider themselves too stupid to deal with it. Technology is only for geniuses and geeks. Sometimes technology is too complex, but it's not because people are stupid, it's because technology is poorly designed.

For example, take software, like a graphics program, spreadsheet or database. Is intended user of software a computer programmer, or an average person? These applications are intended for use by an average person. If an application is too complex for average person, application is at fault - not user.

Why are most computers and software applications too complex for average person? Because they are designed by programmers who are under pressure to get product out door. Does application have simple, easy-to-use help files? Software developers consider help files even less important than application usability.

- The bottom line is, people are not stupid - computers and software applications ARE too complex.

But that wish probably doesn't surprise those of us who already feel overworked and underpaid or are in need of just a bit more money for personal financial reasons. But is that wish based in reality and if so, why isn't it happening for some of us?

Well, while I can't tell you with absolute certainty how to get a raise, I can tell you it often takes more effort than simply crossing your fingers or putting it on your "wish list".

Your first step toward getting a raise or bonus is to tackle that reality factor associated with wanting more money; that is, you must determine if and when you warrant a raise or bonus. And today's reality says that being a worker who gets to work on time, does a good job and sometimes even stays late just isn't enough to warrant bigger bucks in business. Neither is personal financial need.

"A lot of people have misguided notion that because they're working really hard, they deserve a raise," says syndicated workplace advice columnist and leadership development consultant Joan Lloyd. "Or people think that because their personal expenses have gone up, they deserve more money." Not so, says Lloyd who owns Joan Lloyd & Associates in Milwaukee (www.joanlloyd.com).

"The bottom line is there are only two basic ways to earn more," Lloyd says. "And that's either increase size of job or increase level of performance."

More specifically, Lloyd explained these two factors this way:

1. If you have roughly 20 percent more responsibility and authority in your job, you're within your rights to ask for more money, she says. That's because your job is more substantial and thus truly worth more now on open market.

2. If your performance on job is over and above, then a merit increase or bonus pays you for effort and results you're getting.

And determining if or when your performance has increased relies on more than instinct or guesswork. Use methodology. Have a plan.