Digital Work Productivity Hacks

Your remote team isn't failing because of distance. It is failing because: Leaders haven't mastered the new rules of engagement. Successful leaders know how keep their remote teams engaged and productive. It is all about creating a positive remote culture. Leaders need to do this: 1. Encourage Regular Communication: ↳ Make video calls the norm ↳ Enable quick, clear messaging ↳ Create spaces for casual interaction 2. Set Clear Goals and Expectations: ↳ Define measurable objectives ↳ Establish concrete deadlines ↳ Provide detailed success metrics 3. Offer Flexibility: ↳ Trust in different work rhythms ↳ Focus on outcomes, not hours ↳ Support work-life harmony 4. Use the Right Tools: ↳ Invest in collaboration tools ↳ Use smart project management ↳ Enable seamless teamwork 5. Promote a Healthy Work-Life Balance: ↳ Encourage regular breaks ↳ Respect personal boundaries ↳ Promote offline time 6. Provide Opportunities for Development: ↳ Offer virtual learning paths ↳ Create mentorship programs ↳ Invest in skill development 7. Recognise and Reward Achievements: ↳ Celebrate wins publicly ↳ Share team successes ↳ Make appreciation visible It's not just about productivity. It's about creating connection despite distance. You have the power to build a thriving remote culture. It's how you lead that makes the difference. ♻️ Share these insights with other remote leaders.  Follow Luke Tobin for more remote work and leadership strategies.

The 'Out of Sight, Out of Mind' Trap: How to Conquer the Distance Google is a global company with offices all over the world, and while this diversity is a strength, it also presents unique challenges for communication and collaboration. Especially when your key stakeholders and decision-makers are continents away! Those hallway conversations, spontaneous coffee chats, and quick desk drop-bys that teams at HQ take for granted? Yeah, those aren't happening when you're separated by oceans and time zones. And that can lead to a disconnect. Your team's amazing work might get overlooked, your challenges might go unnoticed, and your stakeholders might feel out of the loop. But fear not, fellow remote leads! Here are a few strategies I've learned along the way: ‣ Tailor your communication approach: Every leader has their preferred communication style. Some love detailed reports, others prefer concise bullet points, and some just want the TL;DR. It's your job to adapt and deliver information in the way they'll best receive it. ‣ Embrace Radical Transparency: The worst thing that can happen is your leadership feeling blindsided by a problem or a missed deadline. Over-communicate! Share updates regularly, highlight both wins and challenges, and don't be afraid to ask for help when needed. ‣ Educate Your Leads: Help them understand the unique challenges of leading a remote team in a different location. Explain why you might need more proactive communication or different approaches to stay connected and aligned. ‣ Build Relationships Beyond Email: Travel when possible. Occasional visits to the main office can be invaluable for building relationships and understanding the nuances of the company culture. ‣ Celebrate Wins: Make sure your stakeholders are aware of your team's accomplishments, both big and small. This reinforces the value of your team and keeps them top-of-mind. ‣ Iterate and Improve: What works for one lead might not work for another. Experiment with different communication styles, ask for feedback, and continuously refine your approach. Leading a local team in a remote site requires extra effort and intention. By mastering the art of communication and building strong relationships with your stakeholders, you can ensure your team's success, no matter where you are in the world! What are your favorite tips for leading remote teams across continents? Share your insights in the comments! 👇 #RemoteLeadership #Communication #TechLeadership #lifeAtGoogle

A virtual assistant is not a magician or mind reader! Business owners looking to delegate tasks often attempt to solve this problem by hiring an executive or virtual assistant. They hope that by doing this, they can completely free up their time so they can focus on what matters most — growing the business. But in most cases, hiring an assistant leaves them feeling more stressed than ever: Before the hire, they spent time handling tasks themselves. After the hire, they now spend time reviewing what was done, pointing out errors, and complaining about the ineffectiveness of the assistant. And many times, they still end up doing the work themselves. Ridiculous! You may not want to hear it, but the problem isn't the assistant. It is you, the business owner. Your assistant is not a mind reader. Assistants are most effective when your expectations have been clearly communicated. You haven't learned how to delegate effectively. But you will, soon. Below is the 7-step framework for effective delegation to an assistant. You'll see that there are 4 steps you need to complete before hiring an assistant. Skipping these steps will lead to frustration. Step 1 — Determine the areas you need to focus on to grow your business (hint: it's usually related to sales and business development) Step 2 — List out everything you currently do. (E.g. finding customers, closing sales, overseeing projects, processing payroll, processing payments, hiring, etc.) Step 3 — From the list above, strike out everything you need to do yourself (based on point 1). You need to delegate everything else. Step 4 — AND THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP! For each task you need to delegate, document how you currently do them (step-by-step). The more detailed, the better. Step 5 — Now, hire an assistant. Step 6 — Share the documentation you created in step 4 with the assistant. At this point, any decent assistant can handle your tasks. Step 7 — (If you're using Beezop) Track progress on all delegated tasks without following up manually or micromanaging. Now, I understand that this sounds like a lot of work. And you're right, it is. But the results are worth the stress. The good news is that at Beezop, we provide all the guidance, resources, and tools you need to get this done. And we can help you achieve all of these within 2 weeks! If you're a stressed-out business owner looking to delegate effectively, here's your call to action: Send me a DM or comment with the word "Delegate". I'll reach out to move things forward. Did you find this post helpful? Got questions? Let me know in the comments. Finally, please Repost to help stressed-out business owners within your network. ✌️

A browser with 100 open tabs! 🤯 We all know that is not how we should be using it. Now imagine our brain as that browser with 100 open tabs. A constant hum in the background, a relentless barrage of notifications, emails, and deadlines. That's the digital overload we're all grappling with. It's the modern professional's silent nemesis, stealing our focus, draining our energy, and leaving us feeling perpetually frazzled. As a marketer, I'm no stranger to this. The constant pings, notifications, and the need to stay 'connected' can be overwhelming. It's like we're caught in a digital whirlwind, right? The more we try to keep up, the more we feel left behind. It's a vicious cycle that leaves us drained, stressed, and less productive. So, what's the remedy? Daily digital detox. Here's what's been working for me for the past few months: 1️⃣ Digital Minimalism It's not about renouncing technology but using it with a purpose. Ask yourself, "Is this tool adding value to my life or just consuming my time?" 2️⃣ Unplug Ritual Create a daily ritual to disconnect. For me, it's a mobile-free hour before bed and after waking up. 3️⃣ Mindful Notifications Turn off non-essential notifications. Choose what deserves your attention. My social media, WhatsApp, and email notifications are always turned off. My Apple devices allow me to set a uniform focus mode across devices basis time of the day and location, and other OS like Android and Windows have similar features. 4️⃣ Clear Boundaries Designate specific times for checking emails and especially social media. Stick to it. My phone enters sleep mode at 11 pm and wakes up only post 7 am. 5️⃣ Tech-free Bedroom Establish areas in your home where technology is off-limits. After having a TV in my bedroom for years, I have taken it down. The idea is to have quiet time with my loved ones. 6️⃣ No Cheat Days The weekends are when we want to unwind, get lost in comfort and leisure, and gravitate toward our smartphones is natural. But don't give in to that. A book or even an afternoon stroll can be incredibly rejuvenating. The benefits? I'm more present in my interactions, leading to improved relationships - especially with my kids. I discovered a sense of calm and contentment - a rarity a few months ago in this hyper-connected world. The goal of a digital detox is not to escape from technology but to create a balanced relationship with it. It's about reclaiming our time and attention to live a more meaningful life. #DigitalDetox #Mindfulness #Productivity #Unplug

ABM tech. It's tempting to chase the latest shiny tool, right? But I've learned that features alone don't win. Integration does. Think of it like building a kitchen. You could have the best oven, fridge, and stove. But if they don't work together, you'll have a mess. I've seen companies with many ABM tools, but the data doesn't connect, and the teams can't collaborate, resulting in not so good ABM results. The key is a unified platform. I mean one that connects your CRM, marketing automation, intent data, and personalization tools. Imagine this... Your intent data shows a target account is researching your solution, and your CRM automatically picks that up and updates this account's profile. Then, your marketing automation triggers a personalized email while your sales team gets real time alerts. That's what I mean by integration. And that's power. It's like having a GPS for your #ABM strategy. You know exactly where you are and where you're going. Of course, this requires careful planning. Start with your data. 👉🏾Where does it live?  👉🏾How does it flow?  👉🏾Which systems need to talk to each other? Tools like Zapier or Workato can help with these integrations. They can connect disparate systems and automate workflows. But don't forget the human element. Your teams need to be aligned. They need to understand how the tech stack works. They need to use it effectively. #b2bmarketing #marketingstrategy

I’ve shared these 6 research-backed strategies with several friends wanting to avoid procrastination (at work and home), and they work every time: 1. Create a "Not-To-Do" List Most people focus entirely on what they need to accomplish. But research shows they should be equally focused on what they shouldn't be doing. Write down three things not to do alongside three things to do. If someone needs to clean their garage, their not-to-do list might include: • No Netflix  • Not putzing around in the kitchen  • Don’t check email/social before 10 a.m. Clarity on what to avoid creates mental space to focus on what actually matters. — 2. Make Public Commitments Studies show that public accountability increases follow-through. You can announce your goals on social media or to friends. For example: "I'm cleaning my garage this weekend and posting before/after photos on Monday. If anyone sees me scrolling Facebook, tell me to get back to work!" Public accountability creates just enough social pressure/accountability to push through resistance moments. — 3. Set Up Smart Barriers Shape your environment to make procrastination harder and progress easier. Digital barriers: • Create separate computer users (one for work, one for play) • Uninstall distracting apps from the work profile • Remove social media bookmarks • Install parental controls on their own devices Helpful shortcuts: • Set important apps to open automatically when they start their computer • Remove distracting apps from their phone's home screen • Keep only essential tools easily accessible — 4. Use the 5-Minute Starter Research shows that the hardest part of any task is simply starting. So I trick myself into it. I open the doc and write one sentence. I pull one box out of the garage. Once I start, momentum does the rest. That initial 5 minutes eliminates the mental barrier of "where do I even start?" — 5. Stop at the Peak (Never Finish Sections) Never end work at a natural stopping point. For example, I’m currently writing my next book and I never stop at the end of a section. I stop mid-sentence. The next day, I pick up exactly where I left off. There’s no inertia, no overthinking. (BTW my next book will ALSO start with a “C” can you guess what it will be?!?) — 6. Dream Big (Think Abstract) When bills pile up or clutter builds, it’s easy to stay overwhelmed. So I pause and visualize how I’ll feel after. A clean closet. An empty inbox. That emotional payoff actually helps push me through. These 6 simple shifts make it easier to follow through without relying on willpower.

To keep a virtual team connected, the fix isn’t “more meetings.” It’s shared purpose. Clear alignment. And strategic shots of connection. Thank you to The Globe and Mail and Gobi Kim for featuring me alongside Shannae Ingleton Smith and Justin Raymond in this piece on building culture in distributed and remote teams. 🤔 One of the biggest challenges I see? Distributed and remote teams “transacting” with each other instead of truly collaborating. 🧭 The solution starts with defining how we work together. → That’s why I recommend every team create a Team Working Agreement. Yes, it takes time to develop - but the ROI is real. → In our programs, we’ve seen double-digit increases in clarity, connection, and trust. That kind of alignment pays out dividends. 🗺️ A foundational step in this process? Map your team. → Who’s where? What time zones? Who’s hybrid - and from which office on what days? → This simple exercise builds empathy, reduces friction, and improves coordination. → Want to try it? Get the free mapping tool here: https://lnkd.in/eRTZnVUf 💡 Remote doesn't mean never together. Think of intentional gatherings as a “shot of connection.” → This is one of my favorite analogies from Annie Dean at Atlassian. → Atlassian research shows that just one well-designed in-person gathering can boost connection by 27% - with effects lasting 4-5 months. It’s like an inoculation for team connection. 💥 Case Study: a remote agency Shannae leads a fully remote company, Kensington Grey Agency Inc. She reinvests what could've been spent on an office lease into travel - sending groups of employees to meet clients in-person. This strengthens both external relationships and internal connection. Justin's team at Flexday supports Kensington Grey in building their intentional connection by matching them with a well-resourced office space for the agency members to gather for 2 days each month. 📖 Full article: https://lnkd.in/ervVgwmU 👇 What’s one thing your team does - virtually or in-person - to boost connection?

If you wish to reduce the time you spend on your phone, incorporate these four simple practices into your daily routine. 📱 Last year, one of my most popular LinkedIn posts (to my surprise) featured a brief quote from Tim Cook during an interview with Dua Lipa: “If you’re looking at your phone more than you’re looking in someone’s eyes, you’re doing the wrong thing. You need to course correct.” This quote was so powerful to me; I'm not exaggerating when I say that it changed how I live my life. Here are four practices I’ve adopted in my daily life to spend less time with my phone: 🚯 1. Delete Unnecessary Apps. Take a moment to review all your apps and consider whether you genuinely need them. If in doubt, delete them. I personally removed social media apps, such as X or BeReal, news apps, games, and even LinkedIn. I haven't missed or regretted any of them since. If you can't or don't want to delete certain apps, at least remove them from your home screen to prevent mindless clicks. This has worked wonders for me, breaking the habit of constantly checking for emails that I didn’t receive anyway. 🔔 2. Turn Off Notifications. Honestly, turn off all notifications unless you *really* need to be notified by someone or something. Maybe it's just me, and I'm simply not an important person, but I haven't missed anything so far just because I wasn't immediately notified by it. 🛌 3. Avoid Phone Use Before Bed. Just do something else. While many suggest an hour, the exact time is less important than taking control of your life and resisting the initial urge to be on your phone. And there are so many things you can do instead, such as reading a book or stretching. 🌅 4. Create Morning Phone-Free Time. Establish a morning routine that doesn't involve checking your phone immediately. I've incorporated specific activities like drinking half a liter of water, meditation, and pushups before diving into the digital world. This allowed me to spend time with myself before I start worrying about the lives of others. I have implemented these practices in my life over the past few weeks, and they have significantly improved my well-being by reducing my reliance on my phone. But different strategies may work for you — I’d love to hear more about what does or doesn’t work for you!

Automating Routine Tasks in Treasury: A Practical Guide   How to get started in automation in treasury…   1. Define Your Task: Start by identifying the specific task you want to automate. Whether it's renaming files, downloading attachments from emails, or extracting data from spreadsheets. Consider the steps involved and the tools you might use. A tool like Copilot, ChatGPT or Claude can help with this if needed.   2. No-Code or Low-Code Tools: If you’re not experienced in coding, tools like Zapier (free to sign up with a google account), Integromat or Power Automate will be a huge help. Check which tools are allowed by your IT function. If you can use them, you can get up and running very quickly. Example -   - Tool: Zapier   - Action: Set up a Zap (automation) that triggers when you receive an email with a specific subject (e.g., "Daily Sales Report"). Configure it to save the attachment to a designated folder in your cloud storage (e.g., Google Drive).   There’s even a dad jokes chatbot – see below!   3. Python Libraries: Python can simply automate a wide variety of tasks and if you’re not sure how to code it, an LLM will be able to help. Just explain what you want to do. Here’s an example:     - Library: Pandas   - Action:     - Write a Python script that reads the downloaded spreadsheet (e.g., in CSV or Excel format).     - Use Pandas to clean up the data (remove empty rows, handle missing values, etc.).     - Extract relevant columns (e.g., product names, quantities, prices).     - Save the cleaned data to a new CSV file.   Python code block - you can run this on a csv file called downloaded_file.csv and it will clean it and save a revised version as output.csv----->    import pandas as pd       # Read the downloaded spreadsheet (assuming it's in CSV format)     input_file = "downloaded_file.csv"     df = pd.read_csv(input_file)       # Clean up data (remove empty rows, handle missing values, etc.)     df_cleaned = df.dropna()       # Extract relevant columns (e.g., product names, quantities, prices)     relevant_columns = ["Product", "Quantity", "Price"]     extracted_data = df_cleaned[relevant_columns]       # Save the cleaned data to a new CSV file     output_file = "cleaned data.csv"     extracted_data.to_csv(output_file, index=False)       print("Data extraction complete. Saved to", output_file)       Remember, start small, and gradually build your automation skills. Soon, you'll be handling routine tasks like a pro!   #ProductivityHacks #AutomationMadeEasy

How can those interested in career pivots gain experience beyond their current jobs? 🤔 After the summer, a time when we have more time to reflect on our life and professional career, many people consider a career change. 🔍 Every new role or job requires specific skills and a certain level of experience, so it's important to discover what skills companies are looking for in these roles. On the other hand, we need to manage our current job while also beginning to plan our desired career transition. 👉 How can we gain the skills necessary to successfully pivot while managing our day-to-day work? 🔶 Setting Clear Goals: Define your desired career path and the specific skills and experiences needed for that role. Set realistic short-term and long-term goals. 🔶 Assessing Transferable Skills: Identify skills from your current job that apply to your new career. Highlight them on your resume and in interviews. 🔶 Networking: Build a professional network in your target industry. 🔶 Online Learning: Enroll in online courses or certification programs related to your new career path. LinkedIn Learning offers a wide range of courses than can help you with that. 🔶 Side Projects and Freelancing: Work on projects related to your desired field to gain practical experience. 🔶 Volunteer Work and Internships: Consider volunteering or interning in your target industry, even if it's part-time. 🔶 Time Management: Dedicate specific hours to skill-building and job searching. 🔶 Seeking Employer Support: Discuss your career goals with your current employer to see if there are opportunities within your current company that might be interesting for you. 🔶 Staying Informed: Keep up with your target industry news and trends. 🔶 Leveraging Online Platforms: Use LinkedIn and online communities for networking. Share your interests and career aspirations on your profile. 🔶 Building a Personal Brand: Establish an online presence showcasing your expertise and passion for your new field. 🔶 Practicing Patience: Understand that career pivots take time and persistence. 🔶 Seeking Feedback & Support: Get input from mentors and peers to improve your skills. Consider working with a Career Coach to help you and guide you with your career pivot. 🔶 Considering Part-Time or Remote Work: If possible, explore part-time or remote work options in your target field to gain experience while maintaining your current job. 🔶 Preparing for Interviews: Tailor your resume and interview responses to your target role. 😊 If you need any support with your career transition, I´m here to help! ✒ What other tips do you have? #careerpivot #careerchange #careertransition #LinkedInNewsEurope