All professionals have had this problem. Especially if you work in the digital field. We all know the struggle. You conclude once again that today will be the day you finally finish up with that project. Then you set up your workspace wearing a determined look. And you pounce on the project.
You’ll be done with it today.
Not tomorrow, Today!
No more postponement.
Three hours later you’re laughing loudly while watching skits on YouTube. Or you’re chatting heartily with you’re friends on social media. Your partly done task once again rests victoriously unfinished on your computer. You’ll get back to it after resting a while you think. Only you’ve been saying that over the past week.
Or maybe you run a company and your workers are struggling to meet deadlines. Your monthly budget for electricity, data and other resources never covers the amount of work to be done.
The productivity struggle is real.
There’s only so much attention the average person can give to a particular task before getting bored or exhausted. But customers must be satisfied even as they make more and more demands.
So how do you handle this issue.
Well, its reasonable to say that it starts with understanding the cause of the problem. It’s not enough to entirely pin it on unseriousness. Other factors that can hinder productivity for a professional or firm include unrealistic deadlines, multitasking, inadequate facilities etc. So, it’s essential to figure out what the cause of the problem.
Query and inspire?
If you are the manager of a firm that struggles with low productivity, one of the first actions that may come to mind is to punish the employee of team involved. You may also try to give talks and motivate the underperforming party by giving a speech. This may also apply to an underperforming professional who could try and push his/her mind into action with the classic; “If I don’t get this done, then I’m shit” trick.
But this is hardly enough in serious cases. Infact, trying to discipline a struggling employee could even result in lasting animosity that could further lower their productivity.
Hence, to properly solve the problem of low productivity, it is essential to incorporate software tools that will quickly identify, quantify and remedy the productivity problem.
Top productivity tools for various industries
*General
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Google Workspace provides a comprehensive set of tools and features. It includes business email customization, team messaging, shared calendars, video and voice conferencing, cloud storage, word processing, spreadsheets, presentation building, survey creation, and collaborative digital whiteboarding. Additionally, Google Workspace seamlessly integrates with other productivity tools such as Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Forms. These features enable businesses to enhance communication, collaboration, and productivity within their teams.
Email Analytics is a valuable tool for understanding productivity. Professionals typically spend 28-52% of their workday on emails, but this time often lacks visibility. Email Analytics illuminates this "black hole" by providing metrics like email volume, response time, and busiest periods. It's beneficial for individuals and teams, offering data-driven insights for improvement.
With a strong emphasis on tasks and subtasks, Asana is a project management platform that provides managers with a clear overview of assigned tasks and their progress. It facilitates streamlined communication within each task. Asana offers extensive integration capabilities, enabling users to connect with various apps, whether for tracking time or maintaining focus and productivity.
*Technology
*
GitHub is a web-based platform that enhances tech work productivity. It serves as a collaborative hub for developers, enabling them to store, manage, and share code repositories. It offers version control, issue tracking, pull requests, and project management tools. GitHub fosters efficient teamwork, code collaboration, and continuous integration for software development projects.
Slack is a communication and collaboration platform that boosts tech job productivity. It provides real-time messaging, file sharing, and integration capabilities, allowing teams to collaborate seamlessly. With features like channels, direct messaging, and app integrations, Slack facilitates efficient communication, knowledge sharing, and task coordination for tech professionals.
*Education
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EdPuzzle offers an innovative and enjoyable approach to learning. It enables educators to create or choose YouTube videos to engage students. Customization options include adding voiceovers and questions. Teachers can monitor student activity, such as video views and comprehension assessments. EdPuzzle simplifies homework scheduling while promoting student engagement without excessive paperwork.
FreshGrade is a platform that fosters collaboration among parents, students, and teachers. It simplifies the tracking of learning goals and allows the inclusion of district standards. Users can document their learning journey through notes, videos, clips, and audio, ensuring a comprehensive record of progress from start to finish.
*Health Care
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Epocrates is medical productivity software that enhances efficiency for healthcare professionals. It provides access to a vast drug reference database, including dosage information and potential interactions. It offers features like clinical decision support, drug interaction checking, and disease information, empowering physicians to make informed decisions quickly and improve patient care.
Human Anatomy Atlas is a health productivity tool that provides a comprehensive digital atlas of the human body. It offers detailed 3D models, interactive visuals, and educational content to aid in studying and understanding human anatomy. With features like virtual dissection, quizzes, and customizable views, it supports healthcare professionals and students in enhancing their knowledge and productivity in anatomy-related tasks.
*Business
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Monday.com is a business productivity platform that streamlines collaboration and project management. It offers customizable workflows, task tracking, and team communication tools. With features like timelines, file sharing, and automation, it enhances productivity and coordination across teams. Monday.com helps businesses optimize workflows, improve efficiency, and achieve their goals.
Isn’t more software just more avenue to slow down productivity?
Yes, this is an important question to ask. While all these software explained may simplify work management it also takes work to use vet, acquire and operate them. How does an individual or firm know which software to select from many of the available options and how can you keep track if you’re using more than one due to complicated kinds of projects.
Well, software can also solve this problem as explained below;
Custom organization software systems:
In this case, an organization can create its own software system to manage all aspects of its operations e.g., a central database that connects to the website, staff management system, user applications etc. Giant corporations like Alphabet (Google) or Meta(Facebook) often use central systems like this.
Software Management Agencies:
With the numerous available software for professional work, software management companies have began to spring up to offer these services at a price. For example, productively helps companies compare and discover the best business software solutions to optimize productivity.
Conclusion:
According to the Productivity Prohibitors infographic by SurePayroll, productivity losses cost employers up to $1.8 trillion annually. This is obviously a big problem. Hence, it’s essential that companies and individuals adopt necessary software tools to reduce workload and inefficiency which will minimize these losses.
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