Ripple Effect

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! Become a Practically Genius Insider! Sign up for the newsletter: 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] 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)   WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK! Take our 2-minute post-season listener feedback survey so we can keep making Practically Genius content that resonates with you.    Resources: Digital Maturity Assessment  2022 State of Digital Maturity Report Stop Big Paper blog resources   Become a Practically Genius Insider! Sign up for the newsletter: https://www.formstack.com/practically-genius-insider

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

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. 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] 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 Become a Practically Genius Insider! Sign up for the newsletter: 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   Become a Practically Genius Insider! Sign up for the newsletter: https://www.formstack.com/practically-genius-insider

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

Are you sick of having to move slowly when you have a brilliant idea? Philip Lakin has a genius solution to your problem: Start using no-code tools. The co-founder and CEO of NoCodeOps and Switchboard has used no-code tech to solve a variety of problems throughout his career, propelling him into bigger and better roles every time. On this episode, he explains how no-code can get you from inspiration to impact faster, as well as how easy it can be to get buy-in for these tools from colleagues and leadership.   Partner with IT When considering no-code tools, understand what the “must-haves” are from IT before exploring new tech. Use demos instead of presentations Show off the value of your solution through a demo instead of creating a one-dimensional slide deck. Join a community Consider joining a no-code group to learn tips and tricks from other users and to discover new tools. 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] Lindsay and Ryan’s process priorities for Q4 [04:41] Who’s ready for 2023? (Apparently a lot of you!) [09:01] No-code and where the most optimized organizations stand [14:23] #PaperHaters: The financial cost of paper forms (spoiler alert: it’s BILLIONS) RESOURCES: US chamber of commerce report 2022 State of Digital Maturity Report   COMING UP ON PRACTICALLY GENIUS: 11/2 Phil Lakin - Founder of No Code Ops talks about No-Code 11/16 Rose Anne Martinuzzi - Senior IT Project Manager of IT Procurement and Software Acquisitions at Campbell University talks about tech governance   Become a Practically Genius Insider! Sign up for the newsletter: https://www.formstack.com/practically-genius-insider

Practically Genius, a podcast for innovators championing digitization across their organization, is back!  We're exploring how to do more with less and sharing ideas for maximizing the people, processes, and technology within your organization. In this trailer episode, Lindsay McGuire and Ryan Greives discuss why it’s crucial to double down on making your workplace more efficient and productive.  Innovators, builders, and change agents—it’s your time to shine. There’s so much opportunity right now to make impactful changes to your world of work. Will you take initiative and lead your workplace through its next digital transformation?  Make sure you subscribe to never miss an episode.

Every month, Formstack releases a newsletter that helps operational, IT, and digital leaders create change and move their organizations toward optimal digital maturity. You'll get genius ideas, actionable tips, and smart solutions to help you drive efficient changes within your organization, all in your inbox. Become an insider today: https://www.formstack.com/practically-genius-insider

Welcome to Practically Speaking, a show dedicated to highlighting practically genius ideas in less than 15 minutes. Hear Lindsay, Ryan, and special guest Chris Byers discuss takeaways from Sahil Khosla’s Genius Spotlight episode on no-code, like how all departments can benefit from this software. Lindsay and Ryan then dig into data from Formstack’s State of Digital Maturity report. This week, they cover how the most optimized organizations empower employees with no-code tools. Use the data to help convince your organization that now is the time to invest in this technology.

Sign up for the Practically Genius Insider newsletter Modern businesses run on software, yet there are not enough software engineers to go around. So what are businesses supposed to do? Sahil Khosla has the answer: Invest in no-code tools that allow anyone in your organization to develop software. As a no-code expert and software engineer, Sahil understands why no-code should be in the tech stack of all businesses. Listen now to get a better understanding of no-code, low-code, and citizen developers. Plus, discover why this type of tech may be the key to setting your teams up for rapid growth and widespread success.

Welcome to Practically Speaking, a show dedicated to highlighting practically genius ideas in less than 15 minutes. Hear Lindsay, Ryan, and special guest Zak Pines discuss takeaways from Amanda Wodzenski's Genius Spotlight episode on project management, like how to best align teams at the start of a project. Lindsay and Ryan then dig into data from Formstack’s State of Digital Maturity report. This week, they cover how the most optimized organizations overcome technical roadblocks. Use this data to help your org learn how to empower employees, avoid long IT queues, and overcome common technical challenges that stall important projects. 

Have you ever felt stuck during a project? Whether you’re about to start or are already in the trenches, lots of challenges can completely stall progress, like a lack of collaboration or getting distracted by one-off requests. But there are things you can do to avoid these issues from the get-go. Amanda Wodzenski, Principal at innovation consultancy HIKE2, joins us on this episode to discuss how alignment, governance, and vision can keep teams working efficiently towards accomplishing big goals. Discover ways to power your team through those stuck moments, no matter how difficult the project.

Welcome to Practically Speaking, a show dedicated to highlighting practically genius ideas in less than 15 minutes. Get takeaways from Denise Davis’s Genius Spotlight episode on how Emory Healthcare eliminated paper processes across 250 locations. Lindsay and Ryan then dig into data from Formstack’s State of Digital Maturity report. This week, they cover how the most optimized organizations have replaced paper with modern, digital systems. Use this data to help your organization learn how to finally break free from the grasp of Big Paper.

If you haven’t eliminated paper from your processes yet, it’s time to evaluate why. Is the status quo delaying you from making digital progress? Are you struggling to get leadership to see the problems with paper? In this episode, Denise Davis of Emory Healthcare shares how paper erodes efficiency, negatively impacts workers, and fails to deliver on customer expectations. As someone who has helped an organization of 28,000 employees and 250 locations eliminates paper, she’s seen the impact of going paperless. Spoiler: it’s well worth the effort. Paper is problematic. Basing a process in paper limits its data accuracy, efficiency, and scalability. More data isn’t better. When shifting from paper or PDF forms to digital, consider what questions you really need to ask. You can start small. You don’t have to go all-in with a massive process overhaul; try identifying the biggest short-term wins and start there.