Driving Technical Change

Demonstration Opportunities

Demonstration requires opportunities to demonstrate. You can either prepare yourself as much as possible to demonstrate if the opportunity arises or force an opportunity to arise. Both have their advantages. Organic opportunities are those that come up randomly. Someone asks about something you have expertise in, or you’re hacking at something and they look over your shoulder. You’re not asking them to listen; they are asking to be told. When opportunities like this crop up, people are more receptive, but you have little control over the particulars. Forced opportunities are one that you create. Maybe you volunteer to do a brown-bag session at lunchtime or have specifically scheduled time to talk about your tool. When ...