By Neil Thompson
I have a love/hate relationship with Quality.
When I worked as an engineer in the medical device industry, Quality might as well have been named the “No” department.
I can’t recall the number of times I had to redo filling out a form because it had been revised to a new version. It’s enough to make you pull out your hair, and I had little hair as it was.
After attending the World Conference on Quality and Improvement (WCQI), put on by the American Society For Quality (ASQ), it turns out Quality people aren’t so bad.
I run Teach the Geek, working with technical professionals so they can present more effectively, especially in front of non-technical audiences.
The presenters I saw didn’t need my help in the least. The conference wasn’t as “geeky” as I anticipated; presenters demonstrated seasoned expertise, making sessions engaging and informative.
One such session was led by Robin Gatton, whose presentation topic was developing a process improvement culture. She used Mentimeter, an interactive presentation tool, to poll the audience in real time. During her presentation, I also learned a new acronym: ADKAR. A model for managing organizational change, it stands for Awareness (are individuals aware of the need for change?), Desire (do individuals want to engage in the change process?), Knowledge (do individuals understand how to change?), Ability (do individuals have the skills to implement the change?), and Reinforcement (is the change being reinforced and sustained over time?).
The speed networking event, led by Eric Hayler, provided an opportunity for introverts and extroverts alike to network effectively, a welcomed opportunity for many attendees. We were all able to network with four people for 5 minutes per person, and we were given questions to get the conversation started. Quite helpful for those who tend to shy away from such interactions.
The Exhibit Hall wasn’t just for exhibitors. Interactive presentations were also taking place there, one of which was a rubber band and paperclip challenge. The goal was to use rubber bands and paperclips to create a structure as tall as possible in 5 minutes. The exercise drove home the point that, in many situations, even though there are minimal instructions and time constraints, the demand for innovation remains. Another interactive presentation involved a reenactment of the game show “Card Sharks,” whereby two contestants had to guess whether a playing card would have a higher or lower number than the previous card. What a way to keep people’s attention during a conference; the competition became quite spirited to say the least!
The networking mixer was the best part of the conference. All the street tacos, corn dogs, and churros one could eat. I had to pace myself. The music selection was top notch, and there was dancing, too. I don’t think I’ve ever attended a conference where dancing was involved. Quality people know how to throw a party!
Perhaps I was too hard on Quality colleagues when I worked with them. It’s obvious that they know how to present and let off some steam. WCQI helped me see that Quality isn’t just forms and revisions.
SANDSWA 