How to Make Friends With Desktop Support Employees

The people who keep the personal computers, printers and copiers running are very important to your personal and overall company productivity. They are also the most unsung of heroes and heroines. By treating them with a bit of respect, you'll make their lives easier and just might be the first person to get one of the new machines.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Recognize them. That means learning their names, acknowledging them in the hallway and offering sincere thanks for their help. You would be surprised how few people do this.

2. Take care of the small stuff yourself. That means cleaning your mouse, changing the toner in the printer and clearing the paper jam in the copier.

3. Make sure you really need their help before calling or writing.

4. When you really need help, describe the problem in as much detail as possible. Include the text in the error messages when you communicate, note any changes you made to your system recently and fess up if it looks like you created the issue. A little humility is a good thing.

Tips & Warnings

• Realize that your problem might not be at the top of the support crew's list. Try to find a workaround, like using a vacationing colleague's computer.

[SeventhSibling]

on 9/21/2008 Bringing them cookies or brownies helps too.