Executive Summary: See how Bright Triangle designed a custom, interactive Excel education program that automated spreadsheet workflows, scaled team capabilities, and expanded from a small pilot to a department-wide series for North American employees. Read the full tech-adoption case study.
We were working on a process improvement project for a client—part of the change involved uploading data from Excel spreadsheets into a new ticketing system. We noticed many confused faces while explaining how users periodically upload their data into the new system using Excel templates. Even though most team members used Excel daily, there was an opportunity and a need for additional Excel skills. Our client asked us to create an interactive Excel education program for the small team migrating to the new system.
We created a seminar-based series, and it was a huge hit. The pilot Excel education program was such a success with the small team that eligibility for the voluntary program was expanded to the entire department. We created a comprehensive Excel education program consisting of one-to-one coaching, group seminars, and a repository of all the produced content.
In our experience, there is a gap between the assistance an IT department can provide and the help users need. Excel knowledge often comes from grueling trial and error or peer assistance. In both cases, companies suffer a reduction in productivity. That is where we come in and assist users with their vexing Excel issues.
As part of our Excel coaching offering, we help users improve their Excel skills, enabling them to complete tasks that previously took hours in just a few minutes. In addition to the one-to-one assistance, we conduct eight large group seminars annually. Each seminar includes three key segments designed to build confidence, foster community, and encourage peer-to-peer training:
Function of the Week: In this segment of instructor-led training, we focus on one Excel function or functionality, provide an overview, and give a demo.
Spreadsheet Challenge: Before the session, we work with one of the users and help guide them to a better solution for an issue they were having in Excel. We strive to help these users reach a conclusion independently, with thoughtful guidance, rather than giving them the answer. Once the user has solved their issue, we work with them to prepare a solution demo. Each presenter is offered presentation coaching, and we rehearse multiple times. The result is a polished, peer-to-peer presentation using the client's data, in their jargon, delivered by someone they know and trust.
Open Forum: This segment covers updates on any open items from prior sessions. We also share a keyboard shortcut. A volunteer has an opportunity to share a trick they use every day to make their time in Excel more productive. Often, a user will email us a suggestion of a shortcut to cover with a pronouncement that they will not present. So, we cajole folks into coming on the show and help them uncover presentation skills they never knew they had.
As an example of our work product, review the final report outlining the Excel Seminars for Ace Users program. Also, watch the video below.
Watch a brief highlight of Kevin Holliday leading a custom 'Excel Seminars for Ace Users' corporate training session.
I love the visual aids and step-by-step process in the Excel seminars. Kudos to Kevin for breaking everything down and simplifying Excel for us.
— Yamir A.
Kevin delivers insightful presentations in the seminars and skillfully guides our staff to share their achievements, fostering a collaborative learning environment.
— Liz S.
Even post-pandemic, this client has opted for an all-remote work environment. While the seminar series primarily focuses on Excel education, it also aims to foster community building and enhance the participants' presentation skills.
Each seminar is recorded. We produce an edited version of each session and post it to the group website. In addition, we edit brief video clips that focus on a single topic from the sessions. These clips are posted on an indexed page that categorizes them by topic. Since everyone at the firm works remotely, the series offers a platform for folks to show off their skills and make themselves known outside their team. When convincing users to share their work, the opportunity to increase their visibility in the all-remote firm is a significant advantage.
After several sessions, we noticed that some participants had reservations about presenting. So, we created a protocol to assist them in overcoming their apprehensions. Every presenter receives personal training and presentation coaching. Due to its popularity within the department, eligibility for the program was expanded to all North American employees. We have delivered three seasons of the series, and our client could not be more pleased.
Interactive, live virtual Excel workshops designed around the client’s real-world spreadsheets and team workflows.
Kevin also created an invaluable Excel education program designed for our entire department. This comprehensive program comprises two components. The first involves a long-form ongoing seminar series. Roughly 100 staff members attend the 90-minute live sessions, and many more watch the recordings. Kevin delivers insightful presentations in the seminars and skillfully guides our staff to share their achievements, fostering a collaborative learning environment.
The program's second component consists of a series of custom short videos crafted to demystify intricate Excel concepts and transform them into digestible information. What sets Kevin's approach apart is his knack for tailoring the content to suit our firm's specific needs while seamlessly incorporating our internal jargon. This customized approach ensures that the material remains highly accessible to our staff, regardless of Excel proficiency level.
Kevin's dedication to enhancing our team's Excel skill set was evident in every aspect of this program. His commitment to a culture of learning and skill development within our department is commendable.
— Liz S., Series Sponsor
If your team is struggling with legacy spreadsheets, manual data entry, or slow workflows, we can help. We tailor Excel and tech-adoption training programs specifically around your staff's individual needs, files, and skill levels to make training fun, highly engaging, and instantly productive.
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