Mobile Apps and Devices Can Maximize Workplace Productivity
Productivity is a hot-button issue in the workplace, especially when mobile devices become involved. Mobile usage has expanded dramatically in recent years, and this allows smartphones in particular to fulfill a variety of roles. Our internet-capable devices connect us globally but also provide endless distractions at the touch of a button. While unchecked usage can be a nuisance, mobile devices still provide distinct advantages for the working professional. When combined with traditional management techniques, it's possible to incorporate mobile devices into your workflow with success. When handled correctly, mobile devices provide flexibility both in and out of the office.
Mobile devices are portable, convenient, and ubiquitous. Apps are easily accessible and frequently low-priced or free. Many mobile applications are regularly released for the sole purpose of improving productivity - like Evernote Scannable, the document scanning little brother of the fully-fledged business tool Evernote. I take my smartphone with me everywhere I go. This grants me easy access to Slack team messaging, my work email accounts, notekeeping applications, and writing software. Particularly important to me is easy access to my workflow calendar.
Each facet of technology has a role to play and is best combined with tried and true management techniques. Unhappy employees are often unproductive. Employee engagement and retention is a serious issue, and both are tied to workplace stress. Managers need to remember to unplug every now and then to recognize their team members for a job well done. Receiving recognition helps us all feel valued and worthwhile. This can even be done in company emails or digital newsletters. When we feel our contribution is appreciated, we are better able to focus and less likely to want to leave. A greater sense of satisfaction is tied to better productivity and commitment to the work itself. If you want an immediate boost to productivity, let your subordinates and co-workers know that you think the work they do is wonderful. Mobile-friendly tools like Slack allow for the seamless sharing of achievements to your entire team. A well-timed shout-out can help motivate employees and reinforce positive performances. Technology is a tool in the repertoire of a well-prepared manager.
Remember to provide ongoing and honest feedback. Don't fall into a trap of sugar-coating everything, because that can be just as damaging as only offering negative feedback. Google Drive encompasses a variety of office tools, and each provides ways to leave feedback from within the document or spreadsheet. To cultivate well-balanced employees, remember to provide constructive feedback. We all need to understand what we do well and where to improve. Room for improvement means that there's something to strive for.
If you're nailing both of these, then chances are you're setting an example and you don't even know it. Leading by example encourages others to bring their best selves to work. Habits have a tendency to rub off on others, so make sure that yours are good ones. Technology can reinforce the forming of good habits by providing a simplified approach toward project management and workloads. Using spreadsheets, apps, and documents can slow you down if it gets too convoluted, yet it also can help you keep all the information you need in a convenient and easy to find location. Documents and programs can be stored in the cloud (even via Google Drive), granting easy access to employees on the go. This added flexibility can gives employees the opportunity to work outside the office, and even allows willing employees to work from home while sick or injured.
There is a time and place for everything, including tech in the workplace. Use technology as a tool to unite your teams and simplify the work. Staying connected, offering feedback, and working on the go have never been easier or more important. All of these can be combined as an effective way to boost productivity and increase workplace satisfaction. It might require trial and error, but each of these are ways that mobile devices can be embraced to improve your workplace.
David Kirby is a screenwriter, editor, and columnist. You can find more of his work at the Huffington Post.
