For additional and ongoing system training and to stay abreast of system upgrades, join and attend your vendor's user group activities. All user groups develop and conduct user education at their respective annual national conferences and through various regional training programs. But user group training is not just for the techno-illiterate. It is also for those who want to learn more about their system. Kathy Ginkel, executive director of Delphi Partners International Association, observes that employees of the higher performing agencies are the ones who regularly attend training programs.
Some groups even conduct special programs for agency owners.
Cindy Peebles, director of communications for the AMS Users' Group, says that owner programs are among that group's most popular offerings. But don't discount the user groups, as most offer basic training in Windows, Word, Excel, and other programs that agencies are likely to use. Agency owners and managers can develop and implement strategies for making sure their technology resources are being optimized. Keep current with upgrades. Yes, software upgrades generally do cost money and sometimes seem unnecessary.