{"id":29622,"date":"2019-07-25T09:20:35","date_gmt":"2019-07-25T07:20:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zenkit.com\/?p=29622"},"modified":"2023-07-18T14:09:55","modified_gmt":"2023-07-18T12:09:55","slug":"do-productivity-tools-actually-make-you-productive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zenkit.com\/en\/blog\/do-productivity-tools-actually-make-you-productive\/","title":{"rendered":"Do Productivity Tools Actually Make You Productive?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Do<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s not the tools that you have faith in – tools are just tools. They work, or they don’t work. It’s people you have faith in or not.\u201d<\/span> – Steve Jobs<\/span><\/p>\n

Every other day there is a new tool on the market that promises to deliver users to their utmost productive state.<\/span><\/p>\n

Whether it\u2019s a to-do list that allows you to cross items off with a magic wand or the Tesla equivalent of a spreadsheet, each and everyone vows to be the solution to your productivity woes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

For the past one and a half years, I\u2019ve been dishing out tips, tricks, and tidbits to readers looking for ways to be more productive. And a huge chunk of it involved using tools to help them along the way.<\/span><\/p>\n

A <\/span>project management tool<\/span><\/a> to prioritize tasks and coordinate resources.<\/span><\/p>\n

A <\/span>team chat app<\/span><\/a> for a more efficient way of communicating within teams.<\/span><\/p>\n

A time-tracking tool<\/a> to monitor working activity and measure profitability.<\/p>\n

So, you could say I\u2019m well versed in this topic. <\/span>But do I truly think that productivity tools actually make people more productive?<\/span><\/p>\n

You may think that my answer is an instant yes<\/em>, considering productivity tools are basically my bread and butter. But when posed with the question I actually had to stop and really think about it.<\/p>\n

I also asked around to see what my colleagues thought.<\/p>\n

None of them gave an instant “yes”. Which was a little surprising considering our product is a productivity tool.<\/p>\n

While the majority did agree that productivity tools could make you more productive, the general consensus was that it wasn’t necessarily the tools themselves that did it. The people using the tools have a lot to do with it.<\/p>\n

Having the best quality set of paintbrushes doesn\u2019t make you the next Picasso. Nor does having a great computer and a code editor make you a great programmer. Every trade has its tools but those tools are nothing without the skills behind them.<\/span><\/p>\n

In short, productivity tools can make you productive, but they can\u2019t do it alone.<\/span><\/p>\n

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A Billion-Dollar Business<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Productivity tools r<\/span>efer to programs and applications that make daily office life easier. T<\/span>hink about project management tools, time management systems, presentation programs, and communication software. These type of tools have revolutionized the way we conduct tasks and day-to-day business operations.<\/span><\/p>\n

You’re probably using several right now, and you probably can’t imagine how things would get done if you didn’t have them.<\/p>\n

What started out as an attempt to make office processes more efficient has turned into a lucrative business. The worldwide collaboration software market alone was valued at <\/span>8.45 billion US dollars<\/span><\/a> in 2017.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you do a search for any type of productivity tool, you will find a plethora of products that cater for any industry, any team size, any budget, and any goal. Each vying for your subscription with the promise that their product will be the one that changes your life and transforms you into the productivity superstar that you are aspiring to be.<\/p>\n

So, if there’s a clear demand for these tools, surely it means they’re delivering on their promises?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

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Productivity Tools Are Useless on Their Own<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Having a tool without the knowledge or expertise to use it is futile. It won\u2019t make you more productive. If anything, it\u2019ll make you frustrated and you’ll become unmotivated.<\/span><\/p>\n

Being productive requires a mixture of tools <\/span>and<\/span><\/i> skills. On top of quality resources, you need the proficiency to know how to use them. Any tool worth having will come with tutorials, as well as a customer service team to help out. And on top of that, there are blogs<\/a>, books, videos, and podcasts that provide information on <\/span>processes, methodologies<\/a>, and best practices.<\/span><\/p>\n

Being informed about any product you use can ensure that you use it to its full potential. It can also help you to decide whether it’s a suitable tool for you.<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>We all have a personal recipe for productivity. One person may need six cups of autonomy and just a pinch of collaboration. Another person may require heaps of sociability and noise, with just a teaspoon of occasional privacy.\u201d – Neil Blumenthal<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Every team has different goals, priorities, and ways to measure productivity. Where one tool works incredibly well for one team, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll do the same for another. You need something that will be suited to your habits and objectives.<\/p>\n

Consider the ongoing Slack debate for example. By becoming a billion-dollar company within two years<\/a>, you can’t deny the communication platform’s success and the number of users who love it. But that doesn’t mean it works for everyone. Amir Salihefendic<\/a>, the founder and CEO of Doist, explains why the tool didn’t work for his team:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis style of communication was especially problematic for a remote-first company like ours. How do you stay in the loop when earlier topics have already been discussed and are buried by the time you even wake up?\u00a0It wasn\u2019t healthy for our team, and it wasn\u2019t helping us focus on the hard work that really moves projects forward.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Pros and Cons of Productivity Tools<\/h2>\n

Whether it\u2019s a digital to-do list, time tracking software, or an online database, using productivity tools offers both benefits and disadvantages. Here are some of the more common ones:<\/span><\/p>\n

Pros:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. Makes Collaboration Easier<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Using a productivity tool that centralizes all your files and documents in one place offers a more practical approach to collaboration. You\u2019ll no longer have to email and back and forth with your colleagues and upload files to collaborate on the same task or project.<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Streamlines Communication<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Communication software is designed to make internal communication a more simple experience. Their instantaneous nature in sending and receiving messages makes them ideal for sharing information, ideas, and the general discussion quickly. <\/span>More efficient than calling and sending emails, these communication tools create immediacy between colleagues and are especially great for connecting with remote employees.<\/span><\/p>\n\r\n