The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today's Global Manager

1. The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager 1

2. 2 The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager

3. Table of Contents: I: The “Getting to Know You” Stage.....................................7 II: Managing a Remote Team.....................................................19 III: Tools for better team management.........................31

4. INTRODUCTION Managing a global team can be challenging but it doesn’t have to be a truly difficult endeavor. There is no shortage of fantastic materials that you can use for managing a team successfully. But just like any corporate undertaking, your success will depend greatly on many factors. This short e-book focuses on three of these factors: 1. how to best meet your new team for the first time, 2. how to manage a virtual team, and 3. what tools to use for better team management and productivity. The first part of this e-book will focus on the “getting to know you” stage of managing a new team. It will cover tips on the things to do or not to do during the initial stages of team management. This part will be useful for those who are new to team management. These tips will also prove useful for those who may not be new to team management but are about to handle a new group of people. The second section of this e-book focuses on virtual team management. Working virtually has become quite the norm in today’s modern corporate world. For those who have been given a new responsibility to manage a virtual team, the second part of 4 The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager

5. this e-book should prove handy. Combined with the advice in the first section, managing a virtual team should be a breeze with these fantastic tips. Lastly, this e-book’s third part focuses on the fantastic tools available today that will make managing a global team a lot easier. For those who manage virtual teams, we have a list of top video calling apps out in the market today. These are also quite convenient to have even if you have all members of the team under one roof. These video calling apps are especially helpful for quick meetings or when a conference room is unavailable. On top of these video calling apps, this e-book also features fantastic mobile apps for productivity. A few of the ones we’ve featured here are great for collaborating with your team. Each and every app featured are fantastic for promoting productivity in your team. The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager 5

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7. So you have been chosen to lead a global team. Congratulations, great job! Now that we got the congratulatory remarks out of the way, let’s focus on making the transition smooth for you. The following are tips for managing a team that will certainly be useful in your new corporate adventure. 1. Climb that learning curve. FAST. Managing a team means new things to learn and new processes to practice. Leading a team means possibly being thrown into battle with only limited knowledge on how to achieve victory. You don’t want to face problems and have only “I didn’t know how things were done” as your response. Once you get the job offer, it is imperative that you learn everything that you can about your role and tasks. You also have to be aware of the objectives of the team, where the team fits The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager 7

8. in the company, and the performance standards and expectations in place. Apart from the technical aspects of the job, learning the cultural and political climate of your new team is also important. (source) 2. Get to know your team We do not recommend managing a new team armed with zero knowledge about the members. It’s not enough that you know the technical aspects of the job. You also have to know the people that you will be working with. One easy way to do this is to approach the human resource department for the team members’ basic information. You can ask what their positions are, where they are from, and how long they have been with the company. To know their personalities and working style, you can speak with their previous team leader or any other immediate manager who works closely with the team. The latter sounds like a lot of work but it would pay to have information on your team’s weaknesses and strengths, working dynamics, and unique traits. 8 The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager

9. On top of the basic information and some reports on working style, you might also want to keep abreast of the culture in the team. If you are transferring from a different department as part of a big company, it is possible that the team has a different culture altogether. It is essential to know this before meeting the people that you will be working with. If you are coming from a different company, you will want to learn the overall culture of the company and the team that you will be handling. Information about corporate culture may be gleaned from your manager. Additionally, since you are about to lead a team with different nationalities, you have to be aware of and be respectful of cultural differences that you might encounter. (source) The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager 9

10. 3. Encourage the team to get to know each other For instances when the team members are new as well, it is important to encourage them to get to know each other better before starting work. You can conduct an assimilation meeting where the members can share something about themselves. One topic that may be important to discuss are their ideal and not-so-ideal work team experiences. This way, everyone will be able to discuss and hopefully agree on the types of actions and team experiences to avoid in the future. It’s always healthy to embark on a project or collaborative 10 The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager

11. activities with all cards laid out on the table. You should also introduce yourself properly during the assimilation meeting. Share some personal information or stories from work so that your new team will have an idea about the sort of leader you could be. Sharing personal tidbits and some of your professional history will lay a groundwork for effective communication within the team. Put yourself in the team members’ shoes. It’s not hard to imagine that they will wonder: - Who you are - How you plan to manage the team - What changes you will implement - What it means for them that there is a new manager (source) This part of the introduction will give you a chance to expound on your managerial style and on the traits that you appreciate in people under you. You can also talk about possible situations that may lead to conflicts. You can mention behaviors or situations that you think do not contribute to the overall progress of the team. For instance, The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager 11

12. you can share that you don’t like gossiping. Specific details about how you work could also be shared for smoother future interactions. One great example is your preferred mode of communication (i.e. email, phone, etc.). It would also be helpful to share what the team can expect regarding working hours and accessibility. You can share if it’s okay that they contact you after office hours or during the weekends. This particular detail is especially useful when managing a remote team. (source) 4. Don’t make changes right away You’re new to the team; the members have been working on their objectives long before you got your transfer or promotion. Do not let the high of your new position tempt you into thinking that you can make changes right away. That’s one way to let ego take the reigns and ultimately ruin your chances of making a positive impact. During the initial meetings, take time to study the current system and processes. Ask about them from the members themselves or perhaps get the information from the previous leader or manager. On top of getting to know the members, managing a team also involves observing how they do things. Notice some patterns. 12 The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager

13. Inspect how their system can merge well with the changes that you are planning to carry out. Once you have the pattern worked out, you will have all the information you need to introduce processes that could address some issues. This is also the perfect time to exercise flexibility. Do not assert that how you do things in your old group is better than the team’s current system. Again, that’s your ego talking; it’s one way to alienate the people under you. Instead, be open to methods and approaches that you have not tried before. Who knows, this could result in a eureka moment that could propel your group to greatness. The thing to keep in mind is that you don’t have to rock the boat when said boat appears to be successfully sailing on smooth waters. During the initial meetings, aside from getting to know each other, you will also want to do a series of brainstorming sessions regarding the team’s current system. It is not outside the realm of possibility for the members themselves to have an opinion about the team methods. In fact, it is advisable to ask them three things: What changes should be made regarding the team methods? What team processes should remain the same? What are the priorities that the team should focus on? The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager 13

14. 5. Share vision and set goals While it is important to manage expectations when managing a gobal team, it is also equally essential to share and set team vision and goals. Before you tackle a big project, you can discuss how you expect the team to work. You must do this with the previous tip in mind, of course. In fact, if there is an established team method or process that you like, you can explain that the team can continue practicing said method or process. If there are new team members coming on at the same time, it is up to you to explain to them the goals and processes of the group. You cannot rely on the veteran team members to show the newbies the ropes. This part is extremely important if you don’t want any new members to feel left out. This is one sure fire way to acquire a disgruntled worker. Managing a team also calls for outlining the goals and objectives of the group. Explain what the team’s objectives are and how you expect each and every member to help achieve said objectives. If you happen to be inheriting a team, the members are of course already aware of these goals. Still, as the new team leader, you can set about clarifying the team’s courses of action. As a new leader of an old team, your task is to suggest fresh strategies and look into how best each member can help reach the group’s goals. (source) 14 The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager

15. 6. Score an early win Once you have shaped the vision or clarified goals, try to score an early win for your team. As a new leader, this will give you a good standing in the members’ minds. The members will also feel quite good about accomplishing something early in the team’s new leadership. An early win builds momentum and can have a huge impact on the morale of the group. They’ll think that it’s not so bad to have a new manager after all. The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager 15

16. Take note, however, that this early win does not have to be about a complex project. In fact, to ensure success, the new leader should not tackle a huge or multi-layered problem. It can be concerns or grievances within the team that may not even have anything to do with their main objectives. It has to be an issue with doable solutions. And the steps needed to accomplish these solutions should be possible to make in a reasonable period of time. (source) With an early win accomplished, remember that you should not be stingy with praises. Give credit where credit is due. A team member that feels valued will perform better. 7. Communicate, communicate, communicate In managing a global team, communication is extremely important for smooth work transition. You can introduce an open door policy if it’s not in place yet. You have to stress during the initial meetings that your team can approach you and discuss whatever it is that they need to discuss. In fact, do not hesitate to over-communicate. Explain methods, break down steps, and relay expectations. Be engaged in your team members’ interests. Learn how to be open to new ideas. Take notice and encourage the exchange of ideas between team 16 The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager

17. members, too. It is important to stress honesty as well. You have to bank on smooth communication to lay the groundwork for mutual trust in your team. And with trust and honesty established, your “new” team will be on its way to accomplishing its objectives. The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager 17

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19. The nature of offices has undergone dramatic changes over the years. Previous generations of office workers prided themselves on the structured way they did things. If you had an office job, you clocked in and out at a specific time every single day. You report to a building and stay there until the end of your shift. But advances in technology have paved the way for a more flexible office structure. Telecommunication and the internet have made working from anywhere in the world an integral part of the corporate landscape. Additionally, the last decade or so saw the steady rise of freelancing. These developments resulted in the need to manage remote teams effectively and efficiently. The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager 19

20. Despite the fact that we are well into the internet era, managers of remote teams still face several difficulties. When you manage remote teams, you have to deal with challenges that you may not encounter in a normal office setting. These challenges may include but are not limited to: These are not insurmountable problems, though. In fact, if you do the following right, handling a virtual team would be a walk in the park. 20 The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager

21. 1. Hiring the Right People Virtual or remote work is not for everyone. Some people perform better when they are in a structured environment. While reporting to an office day in and day out could be exhausting for some people, there are others who would prefer this setup in order to accomplish their tasks. There are also those who thrive in an environment that encourages socialization. Others would prefer to work alone. WHO TO HIRE Hiring the right people is important if you want to manage remote teams successfully. Your virtual employees should exhibit the following: Technical know-how – Remote working involves tools that may not be used in a typical office scenario. Your virtual employee should have the right set of technical skills to use these tools. A certain degree of aptitude when it comes to new technology would be a fantastic advantage. The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager 21

22. Exceptional communication skills – When you manage a remote team, you will find that being able to communicate well is extremely important. Since you will mostly be relaying instructions via email or video chat, it helps to be able to convey your thoughts smoothly. This should also be a trait that your remote employee must exhibit. Imagine video chatting with someone who can’t speak well. Imagine reading reports from someone who has a hard time putting their thoughts into words. These are not ideal situations when working with a virtual team. The right attitude – Since there will be no managers or other workers to make a remote employee feel accountable, you will want to look for someone with the right attitude. A good pro-active approach to work is ideal. It’s no fun to always check in on someone or to micro-manage a worker. You will want someone who is honest about their hours and daily tasks. Independence – If you want to manage remote teams well, you have to be wise about how you spend your time. As mentioned, you can’t be wasting time checking up on a virtual employee all day. For this reason, an ideal remote worker should be able to work independently. An ideal remote worker can handle a project without asking about the processes involved every step of the way.(source) 22 The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager

23. PROBATIONARY PERIOD Just like hiring for a non-virtual workplace, a probationary period is important when forming your remote team. When you find someone who fits the bill, you can offer a part-time position at first. This way, you will find out what remote management style works for a particular worker. A probationary period is also the perfect time for the employee to familiarize themselves with the project and the different tools that you use. If you’re satisfied with a remote employee’s attitude and performance, you can offer a full-time position after the probationary period. Even if the employee is working remotely, a full-time position ensures their loyalty and time commitment. A virtual employee hired on a part- time basis is more likely to quit the post than one with a full-time contract. (source) 2. Using the Right Tools Advances in modern technology have made it easy to manage remote teams. Working remotely in the old days involved telephone calls. This, of course, limited hiring The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager 23

24. only to local employees. Even if it was possible to find a qualified virtual employee from another country, checking in by telephone calls while working on projects became quite costly. Thankfully, the internet has given us ways to communicate with people from afar for much, much cheaper. We also have a myriad of software or applications these days that allow for effortless collaboration between members of a remote team. One tool that your team should not do without is video. Video is fantastic for real time discussions. Great options for video calling software are Skype, Google Hangouts, Facetime, and Facebook video calling. For on-the-go video calling, there are also mobile video calling apps available. Some of these are free but there are some applications that require fees for certain features. On top of a video calling software, a good project management application is also needed in order to manage remote teams seamlessly. Due to the rising popularity of freelancing and virtual staffing, there is a good number of project management or collaboration systems available today. Just like video calling software, some of these apps are free while others require paid subscriptions. We suggest shopping around for a tool that will work for you and your team. You don’t even have to stick to one. In some teams, 24 The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager

25. two or three productivity tools used simultaneously is an effective formula. Just make sure, of course, that one tool can be used by all members of the team. That way, you have a single avenue through which team interaction and collaboration take place. 3. Setting Clear Productivity Standards Just like in a typical office setting, standards for productivity have to be set in a virtual team. These can be similar in nature to traditional office standards, such as length of time spent working or submission schedule of reports. Of course, since a virtual team doesn’t really operate the same way as a normal office, you may want to tweak your team’s standards of productivity. For instance, you can emphasize results-based work. Instead of focusing too much on when your virtual employees clock in or out, you can instead highlight the importance of results. Using the virtual productivity tool, you can assess your team members’ productivity by the tasks they finish or by the projects they help to complete. (source) It should be noted that these standards are to be made clear before starting on a project. Setting clear expectations is important so that the employee will know whether or not they can deliver. The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager 25

26. 4. Keeping Lines of Communication Open and Consistent The line of communication is the oil that keeps the cogs of a remote team running smoothly. When discussing projects, it makes sense to keep chat lines open. Whether your agreed mode of communication is Skype messages, SMS, or even emails, projects will move forward faster if members of the team are consistently in the loop. Additionally, when you manage remote teams, an open line of communication through which the following can be discussed is also encouraged: State of team – Openly discuss how the team or business is doing. This can cover projects, company changes, financial updates, and many others. And when you receive questions from employees about the state of the team, make sure that you include everyone in the reply. Again, the purpose is to let everyone know everything. Sending a reply message to only one person brings about asymmetry in information. Fun, personal threads– Not all chat lines should focus on work. In fact, to manage a remote team competently, you have to give your team members an online portal where they can socialize. Keep in mind that you are managing a group of people; for the team to work 26 The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager

27. well, they have to be familiar with each other’s personalities. These fun online chat rooms can be your company’s version of the water cooler. They can discuss their favorite TV shows, share stories about their families, or perhaps impart knowledge about hobbies that they enjoy. The latter can actually be a good way to build relationships between team members. By sharing their passions, your virtual team is taking another step towards cementing friendships. One-on-ones– Apart from group calls, set aside some time in your work week for one-on-ones. It is possible that some employees don’t want to share issues with the whole group. This is why you set up one-on-one video calls or chats with each member. And whatever you do, never cancel on these calls. This is one way to alienate an otherwise contented employee. You can postpone but never cancel. (source) Another way to keep the line of communication working smoothly is to always consider time zones. When you manage a remote team with employees living in different continents, you have to do a bit of juggling in order to discuss projects. Since you can’t discuss project details purely using email, you have to find a way to have team members available for video chats during times that are convenient for every member. The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager 27

28. 5. Arranging Real Life Meetings Even though you are managing a team with members from all over the world, try to meet in real life at least once a year. Practically speaking, this can be quite costly. But just think about the money you save because you are not renting an actual office. You can use this amount to foot the bill for the meetup. This can be in a resort or in any nice vacation place. The meetup can be purely for leisure but you can also organize a summit or a seminar for your team. Even if you don’t focus on work during these meetups, there is no doubt that they will contribute to your team’s long-term performance. Not only is a real life meetup good for your team’s morale, you come 28 The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager

29. back from it rejuvenated and bursting with ideas, too. These ideas are sure to propel your team forward. The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager 29

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31. Technology has made things easier for global managers. These days, we have a wide array of tools that one can use in order to manage a group of people better. A good number of these tools are especially fantastic for handling a virtual team. However, even if your team is not the virtual variety, these tools can still prove incredibly useful. Video Calling Apps to Use for Managing Your Remote Team Video calling is not a modern concept. In fact, the idea of accompanying telephone calls with video was first popularized in the 1870s. With the rise of television and telephone communication in the subsequent century, video calling experienced a long list of improvements. Today, it’s becoming as common as texting. Today, video calling is a useful tool for work and for collaborating with external business partners, too. This list showcases a wide range of video calling apps that are sure to make your team management journey run smoother. Some of these The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager 31

32. are perfect for mini conferences or virtual seminars. Others are great for one-on-one video calls, making them ideal for conducting virtual job interviews or private sessions. Your team does not have to stick to one tool. The following video calling apps come with different sets of features. Some are ideal for conferences, others can be used by only two users. Some of these are also platform-specific. We suggest installing one or two of these to use for your team. 1. Skype Skype is perhaps one of the most popular video calling apps available right now. This instant messaging software was first released in August 2003. Two years later, the product was acquired by eBay. Today, Microsoft owns Skype, having bought the company in 2011 for $8.5 billion. The app has more than 300 million monthly active users. When video calling was first introduced on iPhone in 2011, the app had 27 million simultaneous online users. In 2014, the app enjoyed 40% of the international call market share. 32 The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager

33. Skype is useful the way most instant messaging software are. It’s fantastic for chatting with team members, whether in a group or individually. Emoticons, chat history, and editing of messages are supported attributes of Skype’s instant messaging feature. In the realm of video calling, the app can be used by up to 25 people at a time for free. Video calling and video conferencing between this group of people are free only when all parties involved are within the network or are Skype users. On top of the video calling and video conference features, screen sharing is also supported. Download: Skype 2. Facebook Video Calling Over the years, Facebook has added a myriad of features that have made it easy for its users to communicate. This is, of course, in keeping with their main mission “to give people the power to share and make the world more connected.” Facebook is useful for more than just seeing what your childhood friends are up to these days. While it’s not a social The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager 33

34. media platform where you will likely meet professionals in the same field as you are, its video calling feature can be useful for running a remote team. Let’s assume that after you hire or meet someone in the office, you add them up on Facebook. This is basically all you need to be able to conduct a video call with them. If you can send a message to a contact via Messenger, you will be able to make video calls with them. And since it’s possible to have group chats on Messenger, you can also make video calls with a group of people. There are several advantages to using Facebook Video Calling. Sure it’s too casual for business but it does offer great benefits. For one, it’s free. It’s also fairly easy to use. This is also one of the video calling apps available today that you can use both over a desktop web browser or a mobile device. Learn more about Facebook video calling HERE. 3. FaceTime Unlike the two previous video calling apps we have featured here, FaceTime works exclusively on Apple products. Launched in mid- 2010 in conjunction with the iPhone 4, this video calling app is now compatible with any iOS device that comes with a forward-facing 34 The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager

35. camera. It is also possible to make video calls on Mac computers equipped with a FaceTime Camera. The app has an audio-only version. Video conferencing is not supported by FaceTime. Only two people at a time can participate in a video call. Both users have to have the FaceTime app installed in their devices, too. If a second user makes a call and the user answers, the first video call session will be disconnected. While this one-on-one feature and Apple exclusivity may seem like disadvantages for some people, we still suggest having FaceTime installed on your Apple phone or Mac computer. There are instances when you need to make contact with someone who also uses Apple. And if you want to make a video call for free via WiFi or via your mobile phone network, FaceTime is always a good option. It doesn’t hurt that this app boasts of a simple yet beautiful interface. It’s quite easy to use, too. Download: FaceTime The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager 35

36. 4. Appear.in Appear.in is one of the video calling apps available today that is easy to use. Using a desktop, you can use appear.in to make conference calls with your remote team. You don’t have to sign up for an account. You don’t have to install the application or software on your computer. The best part? It’s free for a conference call for up to 8 participants. Here is how appear.in works: Go to the app website and make your custom link or room link. You can then send this custom link to the people you want to participate in a video call with. The free version of the app allows up to 8 people to participate in the video conference call. This app also allows screen-sharing for presentations. If you want to keep the discussion private, you can lock the room. You can screen those who want to join the room as they knock. The app comes with a premium version. For $12 per month, you can have up to twelve participants in video conference calls. The 36 The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager

37. premium version also allows for use of custom logo and background image for your room. Create your Appear.in room HERE. 5. ooVoo With functions similar to Skype, ooVoo is one of the video calling apps that you can use to keep in touch with a remote team. Launched in 2007, this award-winning video calling software works on multiple platforms. You can conduct a free video conference call using ooVoo with up to twelve members of your team. The participants don’t have to have the same platform but they must have ooVoo in their devices. On top of video calls, the app also allows for text messaging and The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager 37

38. video call recording. The latter is particularly useful if you want to capture a section of the conference call for review later. ooVoo, known for its Superclear technology, showcases clear video and audio. The app also boasts of echo cancellation. Whether over WiFi, 3G, or LTE, you will enjoy crisp and clear video calls on ooVoo. Learn more about ooVoo HERE. 6. Tango With more than several hundred million registered users, Tango is one of the free video calling apps that you can use for managing a virtual team. This app does not support video calling on desktop, making it ideal for video conferences or one-on-ones on the go. Boasting of clear calls and audio, Tango is one useful app to have in your arsenal of modern business tools. While this app will prove useful for your serious business video calls, it also comes equipped with fun features. While on a video call on Tango, you can send 38 The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager

39. stickers, use filters, and even play games. Download: Tango 7. JusTalk If you want a video calling app that is simple to use, you cannot go wrong with JusTalk. Boasting of a sleek interface, JusTalk is good both for one-on-ones and video group calls. Yes, the app is free. There is no limit to the number of participants, too. As long as the users have the app installed in their device, they can be included in the video call. It doesn’t even matter what platform they’re using; cross-OS calls are supported. The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager 39

40. Other fantastic features of JusTalk include the free texting, photo sharing, and address book integration. The latter is particularly useful if you happen to have contacts on Facebook and on your mobile device who are also part of your team. One aspect of JusTalk that could be useful for managing a remote team is the video recording function. This is great for team members who want to have a record of instructions that were relayed via a video call. Download: JusTalk 8. Google Hangouts Google Hangouts is currently being transformed into two products: Hangouts Meet and Hangouts Chat. As of this writing, however, it is still possible to enjoy the many fantastic features of Google Hangouts. This app was launched in May 2013. 40 The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager

41. Dubbed the “best messaging app on Android by far,” Hangouts lets you group chat for free for up to 150 people from your desktop or a mobile Android device. This app also lets users share status message, share photos, videos, and animated GIFs, and communicate using emoji. Making video conference calls is free for up to 25 participants. For those who have a relatively large team, Google Hangouts is a fantastic video calling app to have on the ready. For one-on-one discussions, calls are free to other Hangouts users. Charges apply if you want to call a landline or mobile phone number internationally. Learn more about Google Hangouts HERE. Apps that Help Promote Team Productivity There are distractions everywhere. Even in the most optimal work environment, there are many factors that could affect your productivity. These factors can be external or internal in nature. They can be that office mate who keeps making personal calls in the middle of the work day or your own habits and attitude. Thankfully, there are modern tools, such as mobile apps, that can help improve your team’s productivity. The following are productivity mobile apps The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager 41

42. that can make the road to accomplishing your goals much smoother. These productivity mobile apps are free and come with great features. 1. ColorNote Notepad One of the basic yet effective ways to combat a downturn in productivity is making notes and lists. The simple act of writing down what you need to accomplish can do great things for your productivity. And one app that makes writing down notes and lists easy is ColorNote. ColorNote is simple but can change your productivity levels dramatically. You can use the app in two ways: make a checklist or write down a note using the lined “paper.” Notes can be saved in 42 The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager

43. different colors, making organization a lot smoother. You can make as many notes or lists as needed and everything appears on the home screen of the app. For viewing options, you can arrange them by color, in ascending order, or in grid pattern. The app also has a widget available for putting a sticky note or two on your phone home screen. One particular feature that we find useful is the online backup and sync. Even if you use multiple devices, you can access your ColorNote notes and lists with ease. Other great features of the app include the password lock, SD storage option, task reminder, and sharing option via SMS, email, or Twitter. Download: ColorNote 2. Wunderlist Joining our list of top productivity mobile apps is Wunderlist. This is another productivity tool that encourages writing down your ideas, to-do items, and plans before they get lost in the jungle that is your mind. Wunderlist is The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager 43

44. wonderful for many reasons. With Wunderlist, you can access your lists and task manager from all your devices, set reminders for your deadlines, receive notifications via email or the app itself, and print notes and lists with just a single click. You can also add items from the web, use hashtags for easy organization, share lists with others, and group related lists in folders. The folder grouping and sharing features are particularly useful for collaborations. Download: Wunderlist 3. Any.Do Any.Do is another fantastic and free mobile app that will help your team members become more organized and productive. This app comes with a premium and paid version with enhanced features. However, the basic format still comes handy with great attributes that are sure to make your day-to-day tasks easier to manage. With Any.Do, you can make grocery or shopping lists, assign task lists for different projects or activities, and share lists with other people. With Any.Do, you can plan events with your family, monitor 44 The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager

45. tasks with members of your team, and access your account across devices. You can also organize your to-do files according to projects or activities so that accomplishing or sharing them comes in a more attainable format. One feature that we enjoy about Any.Do is the multi-format journaling option. You can use the app to record audio, take images, and shoot videos. Nifty, right? Download: Any.Do 4. Pomodoro Timer Lite Efficient time management is one of the ways to improve team productivity. However, in these days of constant distraction, efficient time management can be quite challenging. Thankfully, we The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager 45

46. have access to great productivity mobile apps that promote time management, such as the Pomodoro Timer Lite. The app is named after the Pomodoro Technique. This is a time management strategy that utilizes a timer to divide work into intervals. These intervals are traditionally 25 minutes in length . They are separated by short breaks. The intervals are called pomodoros, plural for the Italian word for tomato. The inventor of this time management tool used a tomato-designed kitchen timer to hone his technique. The free mobile phone app may not exactly be a tomato kitchen timer but it does showcase the same timer features. You can set it to ring and tick, just like the traditional kitchen timer. The app also lets you set the length of breaks, for either short or long break intervals. This is one of the productivity mobile apps available today that is simple and easy to use but can have a dramatic effect on your output. Download: Pomodoro Timer Lite 5. Productivity Challenge Timer If you need to truly kick your procrastination habit in the behind, Productivity Challenge Timer is the mobile app for you. This is one app that forces you to work and to work hard. Not only will this 46 The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager

47. app help you track your habits, it is also perfect for those who are insanely competitive. This is because the app ranks you according to the tasks you finish. With Productivity Challenge Timer, you earn achievements over time. So not only will you be able to finish whatever it is you need to finish, you get a virtual pat on the back, too. Of course, if you slack, you get demoted as well. Download: iTunes | Google Play The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager 47

48. 6. Goal Tracker & Habit List This is another app that should be useful in helping your team become more productive. This nifty and free mobile app is fantastic for changing habits and staying on top of goals. According to the makers, this app was inspired by Jerry Seinfeld’s productivity secret. This is how he keeps productive: “Get a big wall calendar that has a whole year on one page and hang it on a prominent wall. The next step is to get a big magic marker. For each day that you do your task, put a big mark over that day. After a few days you’ll have a chain. Just keep at it and the chain will grow longer every day. You’ll like seeing that chain, especially when you get a few weeks under your belt. Your only job next is to not break the chain. Don’t break the chain.” With this app, though, you don’t have to take over a wall in your office. The app showcases a digital calendar through which you can write down goals. The great thing about this is that keeping the chain unbroken sparks a change in habits. If you like seeing a series 48 The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager

49. of checks in the app, you will exercise or eat a salad every day. If you want to improve a certain skill, you will keep practicing and keep the chain of check marks going. This apps allows for daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly tracking of goals. You will get notifications so that you won’t have to forget a certain task. You can export your goals and lists to Google Drive or to local storage for easy tracking as well. Access is also easy with the widget option. Download: Goal Tracker & Habit List 7. Loop This is another app that is perfect for keeping track of your habits and goals. The functions are pretty much similar to the previous app but it comes with a more minimalist interface. On top of the stylish design, Loop is a free productivity app that helps you form new habits, achieve goals, and ultimately become a much better and well- adjusted person. This app lets you schedule habits under different The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager 49

50. intervals. You can assign some tasks for daily, bi-weekly, or weekly completions. The best thing about Loop is the scoring system. We love the graphs and statistics, too. This app can calculate the strength of your habits and can show you your best streak. In a way, you will be able to know what type of habits are difficult to keep, what areas to improve on, or what sort of schedule works for you. Download: Loop 8. HabitBull Here we have another brilliant app that will help your team start practicing good habits and get rid of damaging ones. Using this app, you will be able to see how many hours you spend on Facebook or how many sticks of cigarette you light up each day. Once you see the pattern, you will be more motivated to make positive changes in your life. HabitBull, just like the other habit tracking apps we have featured here, also 50 The Modern Manager: Tips and Tools for Today’s Global Manager