I’m constantly attempting to be more efficient and effective with how I manage my time. With so much of my time online, that means many of the tools that improve my productivity are applications or other online tools. I have a few that are worth sharing.
Here are some of the current tools helping make me a better leader:
StrengthsFinders and The Standard – I believe a leader leads best when he or she maximizes personal strengths and minimizes weaknesses. I’ve been a fan of StrengthsFinders since shortly after it was released. The StandOut is a new strengths finder, but very comprehensive. Both of these assessments are inexpensive, are completed online, and a code to take them comes with the books when you purchase them and together these two have made me much more aware of who I am as a leader.
Evernote – Almost everything I write and every note I take begins with Evernote. It syncs with all my devices which means I’m never without a place to store or continue writing on projects on which I’m currently working. (This blog post started there.)
Flipboard iPad application – What did I do before this application? Flipboard brings everything I want to read into one app. Whether it’s USA Today, Harvard Business Review, Google Reader, Twitter, Facebook, or my blog, you can add it to Flipboard to simplify your browsing.
Twitter – I’ve been using Twitter for several years now, but I’m still just as committed to it as when I began. I have made some of my best friends in the last few years on Twitter. I’ve spoken at conferences and consulted with churches, just because of my Twitter interaction.
Adobe Ideas – Adobe is an iPad drawing application. I have several drawing board applications, but this one lets me save multiple drawings. I pull it out every time I’m trying to explain or teach something. I now have an archive of drawings to pull from always on my iPad.
What would you share with me that’s helping you be better at what you do? Know any good apps I should try?
Yes. I've written about Evernote. Actually wrote an ebook about using it.
Thanks for sharing!
Ron,
I just discovered a new tool for my Iphone. Not sure it falls in the "helping you be a better leader" category but I do recall you mentioning you were a runner. It's "MotionX-GPS" (not to be confused with "GPS Drive".)
It's designed for runners, cyclists, hikers. It tracks your run so you can see where your were and recall it for future runs. It also gives you time, distance, average speed, and a lot more. One of the best $2 apps I've bought.
Enjoy.
That sounds very cool. I would definitely use it! thanks!And, running does make me a better leader, so anything that helps me do that…
Apart the list, one tool which use almost daily basis is Google Reader. I use that app to subscribe the RSS Feeds from various sources and find this feature benefitting me greatly.
I use Google reader too. I'm thinking thought that I may add my most read blogs to Flipboard. That way everything is in one place.
I recently started using Evernote and love it. I get the Daily Minute with Maxwell which helps me grow, here is the link http://johnmaxwellteam.com/
Good post!
Thanks. I wasn't getting that from Maxwell
I use “orchestra” for my todo’s it’s awesome! And FREE you can delegate to others in the app, and when they’ve completed the task it updates your list to completed. Also if you like mind mapping I use “mind meister” on my iPad. Omnigraph is an awesome software for creating flow charts, org charts and such.
Not familiar with it. But I'll add it to the list to check out.Thanks
Evernote is a great tool. I have been using for a few months and have greatly benefited from using it.
one more i forgot to add… wunderlist (http://www.6wunderkinder.com/wunderlist/). after each mtg, i add the tasks from that meeting… it syncs with iPhone, iPad, desktop… and it can even send you email reminders. you can also share lists for team/projects.
Thanks
ron… i'd add an iPad app that I love – noteshelf. (http://blogs.nsb.org/jonathanalexander/2010/12/ipad-productivity/)
i have a notebook for each team i lead, each leader i manage, and each project i'm working on. you can sync with dropbox, evernote, email as pdf/jpeg.
That's awesome. Thank you
Ron –
I do a fair amount of writing and notetaking, and I pretty much live inside two apps: PlainText and Note Taker HD. PlainText is a simple and elegant text editor that syncs continuously to Dropbox. All of my #thesticks11 notes are there. And Note Taker HD captures handwritten notes when I don't have my keyboard. It's also chock-full of drawing aids.
For reading, I use Flipboard, but I gravitate more toward Zite. I don't know why; it just seems to meet my needs better, since I read in spurts, in between other things.
Thank you. I will check these out.
Ron,
I use Things everyday. It’s a to-do list organizer for Mac. It syncs across my MacBook and iPhone (I don’t have an iPad yet.). It’s not cheap but worth the money.
Ron, I use Ambiance, a sound generator that makes all kinds of natural sounds. When I study at Panera, I plug in my sound dampening ear buds and find I'm able to concentrate very well. I also use Outliner–I use this to create my 1-1 staff meeting agendas and keep lists and ideas of other things.
Great suggestions. Thank you.