Have you ever been in the midst of something important when your whole computer shuts down for no reason? Of course you have. We have all experienced computers freezing or the screen going blank. When these things happen, we must call in the IT professionals at our job to help and this can often cause stress.
It’s not always easy to communicate with your IT department staff. They are authorities in their field and it’s easy to feel ignorant in the face of individuals with such knowledge. Specially when the solution to your problem is “Turn it off, wait a few minutes, and turn it back on again.” It can also seem like they are speaking a different language altogether.
There are some actions you can take to make this communication a little easier. The tips below will not only make communication go more smoothly, they will also get your problem solved faster.
No Reason to be Intimidated
Do not be intimidated by their substantial knowledge. This does not help communication. If you’re not confident, it will be harder to explain the problem even if you know the appropriate terminology. Also, remember while they are the experts in their field, you are a specialist in yours as well.
Screenshots
Secondly, take screenshots when possible. If you can show your IT personnel exactly what has gone wrong with your computer, they will be able to effortlessly tackle the problem. If you cannot do that, try to replicate the problem in front of IT workers when they arrive at your desk. If certain actions, for instance, cause your computer to crash, execute those actions while your IT workers are present.
A Written Report
Finally, keep a written report of your difficulties. If you notice that the same problems are taking place when you check your messages, write this down in a notebook. Make a new entry each time the issue reappears. This, too, will help you communicate your computing issues with your IT personnel.
Communicating with your IT department doesn’t have to be a daunting or frustrating experience. Just follow these basic rules, and you’ll be computing at full strength in no time.
Take IT Away 