If this last two years have taught us anything it’s that things don’t always go as planned. When I began my tenure as AME’s president and CEO in January 2020, I had no idea the curve balls that would be thrown our way, and I know that these curveballs have affected our entire community.
While the elephant in the room is the pandemic, we’ve all seen technology, workforce turnover, supply chain issues, and so much more interrupt our normal operations. When things don’t go as planned, it’s important to uncover the root cause of the issue, take swift action to address the issue, and communicate how you’ll correct the course so that everyone understands the path forward and the solution. The mindset we take into these situations is important. Do you have a team that will quickly track down the issue’s cause, improvise a solution, and communicate this solution to those affected?
Just yesterday, AME had an unexpected technology issue arise during our special Jim Morgan keynote presentation. We were excited to open Jim’s rescheduled AME Everywhere 2021 keynote to our entire community. Unfortunately, a glitch in Zoom restricted the number of participants to 300 for the start of his talk. Our account is set to handle significantly more participants, but the technology failed us.
If you were one of the people who tried unsuccessfully to join the session yesterday morning. I apologize for the frustration and disappointment you experienced. When we identified the issue the AME Home Team took immediate steps to correct the problem with Zoom and expand the capacity. While this allowed additional people to join, we know some people had already given up and logged out of Zoom. We share in your disappointment and want to make it up to you.
Fortunately, we did record the session and Jim Morgan has graciously agreed to allow us to provide an on-demand streaming option to anyone interested in viewing his keynote during the next two weeks. You may watch the recording at your convenience any time until February 11. Please visit our website to access the recording.
After February 11, AME Everywhere 2021 conference registrants will have exclusive access to the recording in the conference’s Online Event Guide, which also includes more than 50 hours of other conference recordings that can be viewed on-demand now.
Again, we are sorry for the inconvenience and frustration that this technical glitch caused. I hope that you will take advantage of this opportunity to view this incredibly powerful presentation on lean product and process development.
It is a certainty that things won’t always go as planned. It is our reaction to these unexpected hiccups that helps separate those who succeed from those who fail. If yesterday’s technical glitch has reminded me of anything, it’s the importance of having a mindset that allows you to problem-solve, improvise, and adapt.
As always, please stay safe and keep looking out for one another.
P.S. Speaking of disruptions, the AME Dallas 2022 conference will allow you to dive head-first into disruptions – big and small – so that you can thrive. Hear from leaders and practitioners who have overcome obstacles and adapted to timely trends. They’ll share their insights and wisdom so that you and your organization can embrace disruption and continue your journey. And, when you register by March 31, you’ll save 30% off the ticket price during our early bird discount period. Register now at ame.org/Conference.
