Volume 13, Issue 15 — August 16, 2021

rAVe DS [Digital Signage] — Volume 13, Issue 15

August 16, 2021 | Volume: 13 | Issue: 15

In case you missed it, some of the biggest news since the beginning of August has been that Diversified acquired HB Communications. If you’re now thinking about all the other acquisitions and mergers that happened in our industry, you’re on the same brainwave as Mark Coxon. This time, Mark writes about the growth patterns of AV “monoliths” like Diversified and AVI-SPL. He analyzes these and asks how else we will see these companies grow and change over the next few years. After all, Diversified used to be a small firm — if you can remember that!

The other two columns this week are broader — about managing people and projects. However, certain advice holds true no matter what vertical of our industry you’re in. The first piece of advice is about how to communicate effectively with co-workers, clients, etc. The other is how to set a team up for success, particularly during COVID-19. For example, how do you ensure the proper safety for a team of installers while also keeping everyone on task and organized? Read to find out!

That’s all from me for now. Have a great week, everyone!

P.S. If you’ve ever wanted to know more about developing and maintaining a personal brand — you don’t want to miss the latest LAVNCH & LEARN from Gary Kayye. He teaches a course at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill about this exact thing — so it’s sure to be an excellent crash course. Register to join tomorrow at 2 p.m. EDT!

— Steph Beckett

COLUMNS

+ Godzilla Vs. Kong: Battle of the AV Monoliths [Mark Coxon]

It’s Merger and Acquisition season again, and if you didn’t see it, Diversified just brought HB Communications into its fold and staked its claim as the world’s largest AV integration firm. In 2019, AVI-SPL and Whitlock became one as well, making it the previous heavyweight champ.

+ Communication IS the Key to Success [Michael Katz]

I know this should be obvious and common sense, but to some people, it is not. Therefore, I always try to understand the reasons behind certain people’s inability to communicate clearly, whether on purpose or due to other circumstances. There are countless articles on this subject, yet I occasionally come across a situation that could have been entirely avoided had all parties communicated with one another, which I note later in this column.

+ Separate But Together: How COVID-19 Taught Me to Set My Team Up for Success [Murphy Daley]

Like G-force when a roller coaster takes off, the COVID-19 lockdown shoved me deep into my own seat. Forces greater than myself took away the freedoms I was used to. Possibilities were restricted. But work still had to happen. I had to find new ways to reach out of my space to work with others. I wanted to do anything I could to set my team up for success. We were in this together, just separately. What could I do to improve this situation?