Productivity Tools
Productivity Tools. With some of the recent developments in AI – ChatGPT being the latest big one – there’s been more chatter about whether AI will replace some human jobs. Much of that chatter is in software development and writing; it’ll be long before computers start replacing humans in hospitality. But it has me thinking more about how we use various technology tools and how we can use them to be more productive and – ultimately – more successful.
Use productivity tools for augmentation, not replacement
When people get concerned about software replacing humans, I think they’re missing the point. Throughout history, new technologies improve our lives, like automobiles replacing horse-drawn carriages. Workers performing menial jobs, with a little effort, can find opportunities to improve their skills and improve their lives rather than being subjugated because of a lack of ability.
The same is true in the world of employment. Calculators replaced the abacus, which spreadsheets and macros have replaced. I don’t know of a single accountant who’d prefer to go back to using an abacus.
I remember when candidates mailed or faxed resumes to apply, and those hard copies were diligently organized in filing cabinets. Databases have (thankfully) replaced the hard copies. LinkedIn didn’t exist when I needed to recruit for my businesses. Over time, it has made it possible to identify and connect with more candidates quickly and easily and to build awareness of my recruitment practice.
Candidate databases and LinkedIn didn’t replace recruiters. They’ve made us more productive. And in turn, we’ve been able to focus on providing more value in different ways to our clients and candidates. Supporting both in ways that databases and websites simply can’t.
Text Blaze – a must-have productivity tool
One of the reasons this has been on my mind is because of a productivity tool I’ve been using a lot lately. Text Blaze is a Chrome browser extension that allows you to save text and assign a shortcut to them. Type in the shortcut, and the text appears. It can be as simple as a word or two or as long as an email reply. Believe it or not, I use Text Blaze for “Thanks!” because when I type fast, the “T” is inevitably typed as “t,” and fixing it is a timewaster.
We all have things we have to write over and over again in the course of our work and life. Apart from some customization, those things are the same, word for word, every time. Text Blaze means I don’t have to write those things out every single time anymore. I use it for email confirmations of the day’s interviews.
My point in saying this – at the risk of sounding like a sales pitch – is that my assistant and I save a lot of time with this little productivity tool. Minutes each day, for sure. Which adds up to hours over the course of a week and a whole day over the course of a month or so.
Time utilization
Getting that time back means being able to do other things with it. I can do a bit more work sourcing candidates for a client. and spend more time consulting with clients or candidates to understand their needs better. I might write something (like this) and I could invest in some personal or professional development. Or I might even spend that time away from work in a more valuable way, restoring balance, relaxing alone or with friends or family. In this case, I was writing the same thing over and over again.
Your turn: What productivity tools do you use?
Do you have favorite productivity tools of your own? Technology that helps you be more productive and more successful? I’d love to hear about them; I’m always interested in tools that can help me to get more done and provide more value to my clients and candidates. And if you’re interested in trying Text Blaze, sign up for a trial here. The Basic Plan with up to 20 snippets is free. The Pro Plan, which accommodates images and up to 1,000 snippets, is $2.99/month.
Additional Resources
JimNewcomb.com: Resources
Last week’s blog, in case you missed it: The Confidential Job Search
[Jim Newcomb has been a Senior Recruiting Partner with Goodwin Recruiting since 2013, 2016 Partner of the Year, 2017 Ambassador of the Year, 2018 Extensive Support Coach of the Year, 2020 created Daily Positive Thoughts, and 2021 created JimNewcomb.com website for consistent contribution.]