Mountain Views News          Saturday, September 29, 2012

14

BUSINESS NEWS & TRENDS

 Mountain Views News Saturday, September 29, 2012 

BUSINESS TODAY

The latest on Business News, Trends and Techniques


GETTING THERE 
FROM HERE


By La Quetta M. Shamblee, MBA

 Invariably during the course of my daily 
work routine it will become necessary for me 
to have the ability to control someone else’s 
computer’s resources in a way that simulates 
me sitting at that computer, while working from 
another machine. In most instances I’ll need this 
functionality for remote server monitoring. In 
our semi-refrigerated server room our company 
has upwards of 40 servers that need monitoring. 

 What we don’t have in there is upwards of 40 
monitors, mice and keyboards setup so that an 
admin could walk up and begin administering to 
whatever machine needed attention at the time. 
Then again, most data centers I’ve seen don’t have 
anything set up like that, either. For a server room 
of that size there are typically one or two monitors 
connected to a “KVM” switch that allows the user 
to switch between all connected machines using 
one setup of a mouse, keyboard and monitor. 

 A trip to the server room is usually reserved for 
more serious issues such as moves, adds, changes 
and hardware installation. Often a server will 
enter a state where remote connections cannot be 
made and a manual restart is required. 

 For most of my more mundane tasks I’ll 
use a remote control software package, such as 
Remote Desktop, to attach to the machine in 
question and complete the task at hand. This 
solution works well enough in the office, as these 
machines are part of a common security group 
and authenticated to a network. This practice 
keeps rogue machines from gaining access to the 
network and, in the event that they do somehow 
get in, it keeps them from authenticating to other 
network resources. 

 But for times when I need to connect to a remote 
machine outside of my network for support 
issues, I use a remote control package called 
“TeamViewer”. There are many commercially-
available remote control software packages in the 
marketplace (LogMeIn GoToMyPC, and WebX 
PCNow, just to name a few). All of them offer an 
industry-standard level of encryption to protect 
remote control sessions and most of them offer a 
free version for user evaluation. 

 Some are specialized tools such as 
“GoToAssist” which allows a remote computer 
support person to control a customers’ computer 
after he or she has given permission by clicking 
on “Allow Connection” box and entering a one-
time key provided by the support person. After 
the session has been terminated the person 
controlling the end user computer cannot re-
establish a connection without going through the 
permission process again. This method allows 
an end user to grant one-time access to remote 
support personnel that they can monitor as the 
repairs are being done. 

 Although TeamViewer is not my personal 
choice (I’m a LogMeIn guy), the corporate version 
that we use allows for customization for security 
purposes and we get a lifetime license. The free 
version of the program, as most free versions do, 
allows remote control session but the user will 
experience reduced functionality and pop-up 
reminders to purchase a license. Our corporate 
version only requires one side of the connection 
to be licensed, giving use the ability to connect 
securely with home users needing assistance.

 So the next time someone needs your expertise 
from afar, check out one of these programs and it 
just might save you a trip. 

BEING THE BOSS 
DOESN’T MAKE YOU A 
LEADER

 Being the boss doesn’t make you a leader, and 
definitely not a good leader. The following 
contrasts provide an overview of several basics 
that separate the two.

 A boss is someone who is “in charge” as it relates 
to their designated level of authority, yet being a 
boss is not synonymous with being a leader.

 A boss gives orders, often without providing 
employees with the information or tools to 
accomplish what is being requested of them; 
a leader is able to figure out how to provide 
training resources and is able to serves as a coach 
or mentor.

 A boss relies on a job title and ranking as their 
power to bark orders; a leader is able to engage 
the participation of employees to go above and 
beyond as a result of their respect and loyalty.

 A boss takes the credit for the successes, saying 
“I” made it happen; a leader always gives credit 
to the team for the accomplishments – words 
of “appreciation” without measurable, concrete 
rewards for the success are hollow, insincere and 
meaningless.

 A boss publicly berates employees for being late, 
yet routinely arrives at or convenes scheduled 
meetings on time; a leader arrives ahead of time, 
modeling the standard they expect from others.

 A boss won’t accept responsibility when 
things don’t go well, always casting the blame 
onto someone else; a leader understands their 
responsibility for everything that happens under 
their prevue, good and bad.

 A boss “knows it all” but can’t provide clear 
instructions or demonstrates “how” it should be 
done; a leader’s “know how” is demonstrated by 
their ability to “show” how something is done, not 
simply throw out expectations that they wouldn’t 
be able to meet themselves.

 A boss always expects employees to go above 
and beyond on an ongoing basis, but does little 
to nothing to reciprocate for the extra effort; a 
leader will go the extra mile to ensure employees 
know they are appreciated.

 A boss is focused on getting a wage increase 
for him/herself every year, apparently clueless 
that the work of the team is what they are able 
to use as leverage to negotiate a raise; if money is 
available for any raises, a leader will ensure that 
everyone on the team is acknowledged with some 
level of a tangible, measurable wage increase.

Are you a boss or a leader? More importantly, do 
your employees experience you as a boss or as a 
leader?


WHAT YOU 
CAN LEARN 
ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA 
FROM THE ARCADIA 
POLICE DEPARTMENT

I think the Arcadia Police Department can 
teach us all a thing or two about using social 
media. Here’s what I like about their on-line 
strategy:

They know their audience:

A while back, Tom Le Veque attended one 
of our social media marketing presentations. 
He is the officer who coordinates the social 
media efforts for the Arcadia PD. We had 
a group discussion about the importance 
of connecting with your target audience/
customers. I piped in with, “I’m not sure I want 
to know the police department’s customers!” 
Tom kindly corrected me and pointed out 
that they have more than 56,000 customers, 
the residents of our community! He has a 
brilliant attitude and is very passionate about 
serving this audience, especially through 
social media. Understanding your target 
audience is the first step in understanding 
what you will say on social media. 

They promote their on-line presence off-line:

They hang banners and let people know 
exactly what they will get when they connect 
with them on-line… emergency and crime 
alerts, traffic information and updates. Are 
you promoting your on-line presence at 
every touch point? Do you tell people what’s 
in it for them if they connect with you in 
social media?

They deliver what they promise, build trust 
and share helpful information:

During the last two school lock-downs 
in Arcadia, I didn’t turn on the TV to 
get the news. I went straight to Arcadia 
PD’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/
ArcadiaPD). Everything I needed to know 
was there. It was timely, straightforward 
news directly from a trusted source. They 
also mix up their messaging so it’s not always 
the same stuff. They post helpful safety tips 
like the importance of wearing helmets 
and how to fit them. They speak to their 
customers, inform and provide value, not 
noise. Ask yourself, what kind of information 
is important to your audience, then deliver it.

They humanize their brand:

They share real stories. Sometimes they share 
the painful stories about those who have lost 
their lives in the line of duty. It reminds us 
that they are human and they are risking 
their lives for all of us. It makes us care 
about their brand. In business we can get so 
caught up in the promotional messages that 
we often forget that people want to connect 
and do business with people, not brands.

They communicate – they speak and listen:

Social media is about communication which 
involves both speaking and that other crucial 
component… listening. The Arcadia PD is 
everywhere on social media, not just in their 
own posts but you will find them engaging 
with other threads in the community. They 
comment, they “like,” they retweet, they 
share it forward, they participate. Make sure 
you are listening and commenting on other’s 
posts when it makes sense to do so. Position 
yourself as someone who listens as well as 
someone who has valuable things to share.

About MJ: MJ and her brother David own 
HUTdogs, a creative services business that 
specializes in Social Media Education for 
business owners. Join their conversation on 
Facebook and get good tips and tricks about 
social media, www.facebook.com/hutdogs.

They will be offering a Facebook Bootcamp at 
the Monrovia Library on October 4. Sign up 
for their upcoming classes and presentations 
at: www.hutdogs.com/workshops/schedule 

COUNTY EXPLORES 

“HYPERCONNECTIVITY” AND EXPANSION OF 
GLOBAL DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE

LOS ANGELES COUNTY — A motion by Supervisor 
Michael D. Antonovich seeks to upgrade 
and expand Los Angeles County’s information 
and communication technologies infrastructure 
to spur innovation, job creation, and improved 
government services. 

Last week, at the World Economic Forum's Annual 
Meeting of New Champions in Tianjin, 
China, where Antonovich was a panelist, the central 
theme was “hyperconnectivity” -- the trend 
towards having more of the world's population 
online at any given time. As more and more devices 
from computers to smart phones to kitchen 
gadgets now have internet capabilities, business 
leaders are embracing “hyperconnectivity” to put 
them in direct contact with consumers. 

Information and communication technologies 
(ICT) has evolved into a key enabling infrastructure 
across industries while proving to be a powerful 
driver of enhanced living conditions and 
opportunities around the globe. ICT has changed 
the world dramatically over the last decade or so, 
and it is bound to continue to do so at an even 
higher rate going forward.

"Just as we invest in our civil infrastructure to 
move goods and people, we must invest in our 
digital infrastructure to allow for the movement 
of ideas and information to enhance innovation 
and create the jobs of tomorrow," said Supervisor 
Antonovich. 

Chattanooga, Tennessee is one of several cities 
participating in the US IGNITE program, a joint 
venture between the National Science Foundation 
and the White House, to bring ultra-high-
speed broadband internet access to 25 cities 
nationwide. As a result of its $220 million investment 
in broadband internet access, Chattanooga 
has attracted dozens of companies including 
Volkswagen and Amazon – creating over 7,500 
jobs and over $2 billion dollars of investment in 
the region. 

Antonovich’s motion directs the CEO to coordinate 
a possible partnership with the County’s 
Chief Information Office, its 134 unincorporated 
communities and 88 cites, internet service providers, 
utility companies, educational institutions, 
US IGNITE and the economic development 
agencies in Los Angeles County. The CEO’s 
office will report back to the Board in 45 days 
with its findings.