Nine Tools Start-Ups Should Use for Maximum Performance and Productivity
With more Brits starting and running their own business, selecting the right online tools has become increasingly important as SMEs and startups look for ways to increase productivity, create simpler and more efficient processes and ensure optimal performance of their teams. These are the eight tools that we think every growing start-up should be using for peak productivity and performance.
Asana’s recent upgrades make it best-in-class for managing workload and driving efficiency. The web and mobile app enables teams to manage their projects and tasks, both individually and collaboratively. It supports over 100 product integrations, so all workflows can be viewed in one place, and automatically creates project plans in a range of formats that enable users to do away with manually updating spreadsheets and Gantt charts. Admin control also allows for greater data security and privacy.
Technology is yet to save us from time-wasting meetings. But it can dramatically reduce the time wasted going back and forth trying to arrange them. Enter Calendy, an automated scheduling service that syncs with your calendar enabling others to check your availability for meetings, and book time with you when you’re free. Team members can see everyone’s schedule on a single page, share their schedule with people outside the company, and set up smart scheduling where meetings for specific teams are automatically assigned to available team members.
While it may seem counter-intuitive, taking time out from work to meditate actually increases both productivity and overall performance. Getting into the meditation habit can be easier said than done though, which is where Headspace comes in. Headspace is an award-winning, research-backed app and platform that comes loaded with hundreds of meditations to help team members manage stress, decrease anxiety and increase focus through mindfulness. Not to be underestimated.
HelloSign is a saviour for businesses that need to send contracts to their clients. It makes digital signatures easy by enabling documents to be signed directly on any device. Form fields can be automatically pre-filled and contracts are completely secure, in compliance with all major e-signature laws.
Any start-up hiring and retaining top talent knows how important it is to build a supportive, rewarding culture where personal development is amplified. Howamigoing has taken a design and psychology based approach to its reinvention of workplace feedback and performance appraisals. No longer a tick-the-box exercise that’s shrouded in anxiety removing the pain and making them valuable for both you and your employees. Combining technology, design and psychology in its ultra modern interface, Howamigoing provides a best practice performance management system tailored for each person on the team. And because it’s cloud-based and mobile ready, asking for or giving feedback has never been easier. Howamigoing is best suited for teams with 10 or more members.
Keeper is a password manager that protects you and your business from password-related data breaches and cyberthreats. It works by generating random, high-strength passwords for all the websites and applications you access and storing them in a secure vault across all your devices. Each employee gets their own vault and permissions can be altered based on each employee’s role. It also works as a secure file storage for confidential files and documents.
Slack is the smarter way to communicate within your business. It brings messaging, file-sharing and collaboration tools together to help save time and reduce email. With Slack, team members can chat with each other and with people outside of the business in groups or one-to-one. Slack also supports full integration with over 1,500 other apps and it even allows you to build your own tools!
Timetastic is a super-simple staff leave planner. It’s an online, mobile and paperless way to organise time off work that gets rid of holiday forms and spreadsheets. Every member of staff gets a personal calendar and summary. They can see and track their time off and make plans for this year or next, and the rest of the team can see when they’ll be out of the office too.