Toward the end of 2023, Chris Hawkins and I were on one of many conference road trips and were trying to figure out how to make Sales easier. We needed to hire, to motivate and elevate, while figuring out how to increase revenue. Meeting with school districts and serving their needs came fairly easy to us because of our unique position and experience within the company - we listened while they talked. Most of the time we could help. Sometimes we couldn’t. It all felt “easy” because we were there to consult - listen, evaluate, and help where/if/when we could. We never had to ask for a sale. Sales came in naturally when the timing was right. What could we do to get every member of our team to the “easy” of serving districts?
Very quickly our new vision and structure was born. We would drastically reduce the concept of “sales” from our vocabulary, our titles and our mindset. We would remove metrics tied to particular products, lines and solutions and eliminate commission from compensation. Our KPIs would be reduced to a single goal, simplified and measurable. We’d transition from a Sales Team to a Solutions Team - better representing what we’ve always felt truly made us different in this industry and empowering our entire team to embrace a consultative approach to working with our K-12 District partners. We would make sure that each member of our team was not only the right fit for Secured Tech, including the multiple new individuals we were hiring, but also that they were in the right seat on the boat. We needed everyone rowing in the same direction for this concept to work.
We started with role evaluation - where did we see gaps? Where did we see untapped potential in our current team? Where did team members show strengths that were not being fully highlighted in their current responsibilities? Titles were edited, job descriptions were re-written, and, in a few select cases, roles were changed; all with input and approval from the team because we needed to ensure that they understood the vision and felt ownership over their responsibilities.
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a time when schools and institutions across the country take stock of their digital security practices. For K12 schools, where technology is essential to daily operations, protecting devices and data is more critical than ever. Schools handle a vast amount of sensitive information, student records, personal data, and communications- making them prime targets for cyberattacks.
About Community Buyback
The Secured Tech Solutions Community Buyback program provides K-12 schools an easy way to recoup technology funds while keeping resources IN THE COMMUNITY.
Cheers to a new year filled with positive vibes and sustainable choices! As K-12 schools gear up for an exciting journey ahead, let's dive into the world of electronic recycling (e-recycling) and discover how Secured Tech Solutions is making it a breeze. Ready to get inspired? Head over to https://securedtechsolutions.com/recycling for the full scoop!
We are delighted to inform our valued customers and communities that we have made a significant addition to our team. It gives us great pleasure to announce that Josh Devine has joined STS as our newly appointed President. In his role as President, Josh will oversee the day-to-day operations at Secured Tech Solutions, ensuring that all departments are functioning efficiently to deliver the best possible service to our valued customers and partners. He will achieve this by providing strong leadership and holding our teams accountable, while also inspiring each employee to align with the company's vision.