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Blog posts tagged productivity
A year with a smartwatch: five things I have learned
February 23, 2016
The smartwatch market is still a nascent one, but you may already be asking whether or not you should invest in wearable technology for your business.
"Wearables", as they're commonly known, are computing devices you can wear just like traditional accessories or clothing. They include smart jumpers which keep you warm and intelligent running shoes which connect to your smartphone.
But the most prominent of all wearable tech comes in the form of smartwatches. Having worn a smartwatch for nearly a year, there are five key ways that I have benefited:
1. Meeting notifications
We all attend a lot of meetings. So many, in fact, that it is all too easy to forget where we're supposed to be next. Smartwatches will notify you of forthcoming meetings, so a gentle raise of the wrist is all you'll need to do to avoid being late.
2. Travel
I use my Apple Watch to track mileage and to find my way to meetings in unfamiliar locations with the navigation feature. As a result, it has become an incredibly handy business travel companion.
3. Retaining focus
How many times have you been in the middle of a complex project only to have your attention diverted by your smartphone? Smartwatches deliver notifications in a more subtle fashion and a swift flick of the wrist is all that's required to stay updated and away from the perils of smartphone distraction.
4. Instant communication
Most smartwatches allow you to take calls and respond to texts on your wrist. That means you'll no longer have to rummage in your pocket or bag for your smartphone and risk missing that all-important call.
5. Productivity
There are a growing number of productivity apps available for smartwatches. The most useful are of the to-do list variety that offer quick glances at your current priorities and enable you to easily check off the tasks you've completed. It's intuitive and somewhat addictive – I am definitely more productive because of my smartwatch.
Smartwatches aren't intended to replace computers and laptops. If the time I've spent with the Apple Watch has taught me anything, it's that a device of this kind acts as a brilliant companion to my digital world.
Wearable technology has some way to go before it becomes a permanent fixture in business, but the early benefits are certainly compelling.
Blog written by Mark Ellis of Business Fiction.
Switching off from email in the always-on world
June 16, 2011
Put the smart phone away! (Image: Gulltaggen on Flickr)
With laptops, smartphones and other mobile devices, your email is always with you - wherever you are. So how can you get away from it without appearing rude to people who expect an instant response? Is it even realistic to always be available?
It's interesting that most surveys, including my own, show that we stay connected not so much because people expect us to be available but because we think they expect us to be available. That reflects either our inability to switch off and delegate, or an equally worrying 'email addiction'.
To check your level of email addiction use my email addiction tool.
The key to surviving in this 24/7/365 world of business is to manage people's expectations. Here are five ways to take time off from email:
- Check your level of email addiction to make sure your reluctance to switch off is not driven primarily by your own assumptions rather than other people's expectations. More on how to deal with addiction in a future column.
- Use your out of office message no matter whether you're away on business or holiday. Set a safe, simple message saying you are out of the office with limited email access. Offer a point of contact for urgent matters and a date when you will reply. Make this the day after you actually get back, so you have time to catch up.
- Ask someone else to manage your email whilst you take a break. If you're a one-person business or don't have someone you can ask, consider using a virtual PA service.
- Lock your smart phone away and take a conventional mobile phone with you which only handles voice and text messages.
- If you do take a smart phone or laptop with you, only check your email once or twice a day - preferably at the end of the day. At all other times, shut down your email software and turn new message notifications off.
We all like to think we are indispensible but at the end of the day most of us need time to recharge our batteries and switch off. Staying switched on around the clock has been shown to reduce our overall effectiveness - and never mind the health implications!
Be honest. Ask yourself if there's ever been an email which would cause a disaster if you didn't deal with it immediately. For most of us, the answer is no. And that means there are alternatives to always being connected.
For more ways to take time out without jeopardising your business and professional image either go to one of Dr Monica Seeley’s ninety minute Brilliant Email Master Classes or get a copy of her latest book, ‘Brilliant Email: How to improve productivity and save time’.
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