Technology is everywhere, and navigating it can become a minefield – but asking for help will make your life easier, writes Calum Richardson, owner of The Bay in Stonehaven.
Being a father of four and grandad of one, I suppose I am getting into the bracket of becoming old – not a word I really use. I see it as becoming more interesting.
Regardless of your age, life moves very fast. It can be hard to keep up sometimes, but, to be honest, you have to, or you become lost in the new way of life, which is evolving minute by minute.
Technology is everywhere, in our business and personal lives, and can become a nightmare. I love it when people say they can’t do something online, but they seem to manage to use social media very easily.
As quick as something is invented, there is something better that comes along and supersedes it. Still, you always have to consider the newer version of things, as there can be a lot of benefits in changing.
At The Bay, I find I’m forever changing systems, not just because I like the new version, but because I have to think of the team and whether I can make their lives easier. Can new technology make for a better work environment as well as a better experience for customers?
What’s important is asking the question of “who, not how?” You need to think of what your personal and team skill set is, outsource tasks, and delegate work to other people’s strengths, not their weaknesses.
Surround yourself with people who know the answers
I get swamped with social media and how much time it takes up, but it’s a powerful tool for business. I have great ideas for online posts, but it’s not always a good idea for me to do them, as I take longer and have fewer skills than the young spring chickens in Team Bay.
So, I ask the team who wants to take over posting on social media for a month, alongside what I already do, increasing the quantity and quality of what goes out. I pay staff extra for this, and I also run a competition to see who has created the best posts at the end of the quarter. Everyone benefits, and I don’t have to try and master another social media platform.
I’m calling on the people around me who have the knowledge I need, so I can pick the best and most up-to-date platforms and systems
I’m currently setting up a new podcast, and it’s all new to me. I’m usually the guest, not the host; it’s a minefield of software. But, I’m calling on the people around me who have the knowledge I need, so I can pick the best and most up-to-date platforms and systems. Without them, I would never be able to get this off the ground.
The “who, not how?” approach means we will never age out of technology. Now, where is my abacus?
Calum Richardson is owner of The Bay Fish & Chips in Stonehaven
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